F104 
.S53 S4 




^^^^. 







% 








■• "^ ♦* 'Jlj^ 




= 1? 








• » 



=■0^ 

1°,* 



^o 






• • S 



^°-nK 














• » 













L 



HISTORY f -^ 



OF THE 



TOWN OF SHARON^ 



LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONN. 



From its first settlement. 



BY CHARLES F. SEDGWICK 



HARTFORD. 

PRINTED BY CASE, TIFFANY & CO., PEARL STREET, 
1842. 



• • 



) 



c 
PREFACE. 



The author of the following pages, was requested by 
his fellow citizens of the town of Sharon, to prepare an 
address to be delivered at the celebration of the one hun- 
dreth anniversary of their first tow^n meeting, on the 
22d day of December, 1839. This request was complied 
with, but the short period in which it was prepared, ren- 
dered it, necessarily in many respects, imperfect, and in 
some, inaccurate. By the advice of many friends he has 
been induced to embody the facts connected with the 
history of the town, in the form here presented, and to 
commit the work to the press for the benefit of the inhab- 
itants of his adopted town. The labor of making the 
researches has, necessarily, occupied much time, and 
no effort has been spared to make the work accurate 
in its details. In preparing sketches of the many citizens 
of the town, who are brought to notice in the last chapter, 
the personal history of more than two hundred individu- 
als, many of whom have been dead for a half century, 
has been investigated, and many names which had long 
since gone into forgetfulness are brought to light. It is 
not unlikely that in this part of the work some errors 
may have intervened, but it is believed, that] in almost 
every instance, accuracy has been attained. 

If the work shall prove interesting or useful to the citi- 
zens of the town, the labor incurred in its preparation 
will be well repaid. 

Sharon, March, 1842. 



HISTORY 



OF THE 



TOWN OF SHARON. 



CHAPTER I. 

Containing a concise history of events whicli led to tlie sale and settlement 
of the township. 

The North-western part of Connecticut, was sold 
and settled at a much later period than any other por- 
tion of the State. As early as the year 1686, nearly 
all the lands in the colony had been disposed of, ex- 
cept those lying north of Waterhury and Woodbury ^ 
and west of Simshury. Under the Charter of Charles 
II., obtained in 1652, the colony of Connecticut, 
though nominally dependant on the crown, enjoyed, in 
fact, a strictly Republican form of government ; the 
only service they were required to render to the crown 
of England, being the one fifth part of the produce of 
such mines of gold and silver as should be discovered. 
Charles was succeeded by his brother, James II., a 
prince of very arbitrary and vindictive propensities, 
and no sooner was he firmly seated on his throne, 
than he began to manifest his tyrannical disposition by 
causing the charters, which had been granted by his 
1* 



6 HISTORY OF THE 

predecessors, to be vacated, and by assuming to him- 
self the right of appointing governors for the different 
colonies. It was feared by the people, that these Royal 
governors would seize upon all the public lands which 
had not been sold and granted by the colony, and 
measures were taken to prevent such unjustifiable 
proceedings. It was believed, that if the public lands 
were sold, and the title to them guarantied by the 
governor and company of the colony, they could not 
be seized for the king, and under this impression, the 
lands within the limits just mentioned, were on the 
26th day of January, 1680, conveyed to the towns of 
Hartford and Windsor. The grant, however, did not 
include the lands west of the Ousatonic River, the 
assembly probably supposing, that, on account of 
their great distance from the settled parts of the colo- 
ny, they were beyond the reach of the royal govern- 
or's rapacity. In October, after the grant just men* 
tioned, Sir Edmund Andross came into the colony^ 
and by virtue of a commission from King James, took 
upon himself the administration of the government^ 
and continued in it about two years, or until the 
deposition of King James, when the people quietly 
resumed their ancient form of government under the 
Charter. 

The lands above mentioned being deemed of little 
value, and the more fertile parts of the State being 
but thinly populated, it was more than thirty years 
before any attempts were made to settle them. About 
the year 1722, the public attention was turned to the 
western lands, as they were called ; and as they began to 
rise in value, the towns of Hartford and Windsor laid 
claim to them, under the ancient grant which had been 
made to them under the circumstances which have 
been mentioned. This claim created a strong excite- 
ment throughout the colony, and a long and bitter 



TOWN OF SHARON. / 

controversy ensued, which resulted in a division of 
the lands between the towns and the colony. 

This contention with Hartford and Windsor had 
retarded the sale of the western lands, but that diffi- 
culty was now adjusted, and the Assembly took mea- 
sures, soon after 1730, to effect this object; and for 
this purpose they were surveyed, and laid out into 
townships of suitable dimensions. At the session in 
May, 1732, Edmund Leiois, Esq., Capt. Stephen No- 
lle, and Mr. William Gaylord* were appointed a 
committee to view the colony lands west of the Ousa- 
tonic River, and to lay out a township in the north- 
ern section of them. They were also endowed with 
discretionary power to lay out a township on the south 
of the one just mentioned, if, upon viewing the lands, 
they should be of opinion that they were of such a 
quality as to render them a desirable place for a new 
settlement. This committee entered promptly upon 
their duties ; and by their report, dated at New Mil- 
ford, October 9, 1732, it appears they laid out both 
townships. The north township, now Salisbury, they 
denominated " the toiunship of il/," and the south 
township they called N. S. The remainder of the 
country lands were afterwards annexed to Kent. — 

* Mr. Leicis, who was placed at the head of this committee 
belonged to Stratford, and was the County Surveyor of Fairfield 
County. He had been employed, through the whole of the pre- 
ceding year, in surveying and running the boundary line between 
the colony of Connecticut and the province of New York, which 
was a work of very great labor. He had also been employed, 
years before, in laying out country grants in the south part of the 
territory, and of course was well acquainted with all this region of 
country, then in a state of nature. Mr. Noble was the second 
son of JVlr. John Noble, of New Milford, who is reputed the first 
settler of that town. Mr. Gaylord was also one of the first set- 
tlers of New Milford, and was originally from Windsor. He 
was the patriarch of the Gaylord family, which settled in the 
northwest part of that town, called Gaylord' s farms^ or straights ^ 
in which the Gaylord name still prevails. 



W HISTORY OF THE 

The boundaries of the second township are thus de- 
scribed by the committee: — "Then having taken a 
view of the whole tract, we proceeded and laid out a 
second township, which begins at the south-west cor- 
ner of the aforesaid township of M, it being a stake 
set in the ground, and many stones iaid to it, standing 
on the east side of a pond, as above set forth ; and 
from thence the Jine runs south 12.^^ D. W., with the 
]ine of partition between said province of New York, 
and the colony of Connecticut, nine miles to a heap 
of stones laid on a rock, in the aforesaid line of parti- 
tion, and is about two miles east from Captain Sack- 
ets' dwelling house,* which is the south-west corner 
bounds of said second township, — from thence we run 
the south line of said second township E. dh D. south 
four miles and a half and 115 rods, to the Ousatonic 
River, where we marked a white oak tree, and laid 
many stones to it, for the south-east corner bounds of 
said second township, and we have marked many trees 
and made many monuments in the said south line. — 
Thus we have surveyed and laid out the township of 
N. S., and it is bounded north on the township of M., 
south on the country lands, west on the aforesaid line 
of partition between the province of New York and 
the colony of Connecticut, and east on the Ousatonic 
River." The above work was completed October 7, 
1732.t 

* Captain Sacket lived near Kline's co\-ner, in Oblong, N. York. 
He was an old sea captain, and was the first white person who 
lived in Arnenia, having been settled there as early as 1725. 

tThe opinion of the committee, as to the quality of the lands 
west of the Ousatonic River, is here given in their own language, 
and it will be read with much interest by those who are acquaint- 
ed with its present condition and value. " Furthermore these 
may certify the Hon. the General Assembly, that as to the quality 
of the aforesaid described and laid out lands, in the said townships, 
we find them like a great part of the rest of the lands in this gov- 
ernment, some good and some otherwise ; we find the good and 
fertile lands in the north township to be considerably scattering, 



TOWN OF SHARON. 9 

An attempt was made at the session of May, 1733, 
to sell the new townships which had been laid out in 
the western lands, and a committee was appointed for 
that purpose, but it does not appear that any thing 
was effected. The Hartford and Windsor lands, be- 
ing more accessible, and nearer to the settled portion 
of the State, probably afforded a more desirable field 
for the enterprise of new settlers, and the colony lands 
were neglected. 

At the session in October, 1737, however, the As- 
sembly took eff^ective, and eventually, successful mea- 
sures to accomplish their object. It was ordered that 
the townships should be sold at auction, at different 
times and places, and committees were appointed for 
that purpose, who were authorised to give deeds to the 
purchasers. 

The township of N. S. was disposed of in the fol- 

and that there are country grants laid out in it to the quantity of 
about 3,500 acres. There are six ponds in said north township, 
which we judge, all of them, contain not less than 2,000 acres. — 
There is at the north-west corner of said township, on Poconnuck 
Mount, a large piece of rough waste land, we think not less than 
4,000 acres. The remainder of the lands in said township will, in 
our judgment, be serviceable for plowing, mowing, and pastur- 
ing ; and will, with the inhabitants there, and the farms, accom- 
iTfiodate a sufficient number of inhabitants for a town. 

" In the second township we find two ponds, which may con- 
tain 500 acres. There is laid out in it, of country grants, 400 
acres, and a considerable quantity of rough land, yet we find such 
a quantity of feasible lands in it, (and not so much scattering as 
in the first township,) as will, in our judgment, accommodate a 
sufficient number of inhabitants for a town. 

" The remainder of the country lands there, is about eight miles 
in length, and at the south end, we judge, about three fourths of 
a mile wide ; which we find, the greatest part of it, to be very 
rough and mountainous; yet we find some feasible land in it, — 
which is all at present supposed to be needful by your Honors' 
most obedient servants to command. 

Edmund Lewis, ) 
Stephen Noble, > Committee. 
Wm. Gaylord, ) 
New Milford, October 9, 173-2. 



10 HISTORY OF THE 

lowing manner : — It was divided into fifty-three equal 
shares, or rights, as they were called, of which one 
was reserved for the use of the ministry, forever, one 
for the first minister, and one for the support of schools 
in the township. The remaining fifty rights were 
ordered to be sold at auction, on the second Wednes- 
day of October, 1738, at New Haven, to actual set- 
tlers only. The committee appointed to sell the 
township, were Samuel Eels, Esq., Joseph Whiting, 
Esq., and Captain Isaac Dickerman. The deeds 
which this committee executed to the purchasers, are 
on the town records.* 



CHAPTER II. 

Some account of the Indians who inhabited the territory of Sharon, before 
its settlement by the whites. 

There were considerable numbers of Indians resi- 
ding within what is now the territory of Sharon, be- 

* The rights sold for about 300 or 350 pounds each, being; an 
average of a little more than 1,000 dollars for each right. There 
has been divided to each proprietor of a right, more than six hun- 
dred acres of land, so that the township sold for a little more than 
one dollar and fifty cents per acre. The following provision is 
contained in each deed : — " Always provided, and these presents 

are upon this condition, that if the said , shall by himself 

or his agent, within the space of two full years next after the date 
hereof, enter upon the said granted premises, build and finish an 
house thereon not less than eighteen feet square, and seven feet 
stud, subdue, clear, and fence six acres of said land, and continue 
thereon for the space of three successive years^ commencing after 
the two years aforesaid, (unless prevented by death or inevitable 
Providences,) and do perform all duties and orders, pay all taxes 
that shall be granted, then the aforesaid deed shall remain in full 
force and virtue." 



TOWN OF SHARON. *1 

fore its settlement by the white inhabitants Their 
principal village was on the eastern border o Indian 
Pond* where they had made considerable clearnigs, 
and where their chief resided. There were numbers 
of them, too, on the borders of the other pond, and in 
the valley of the Oblong River. They were never so 
numerous as to prove dangerous to the safety of the 
settlers • but as there was a numerous tribe at ^c/iagfi- 
tikoke, in Kent, and at Wdauff, in Salisbury, and 
many more at StorkbrkJgf. in Massachusetts and, as 
durincr the wars with the French, which were frequent 
at that period, the frontier settlements were some- 
times exposed to their incursions, the first inhabitants 
of Sharon fortified several of their houses by palisa- 
does, into which they were sometimes gathered during 
the nicrht, when danger was apprehended One such 
fortifie'd house was fitted up in each neighborhood.— 
It does not appear, however, that these Indians ever 
practised or attempted any injury to the whites, or that 
there was any difficulty between them except such as 
arose from conflicting claims to lands, or from the 
mischievous propensities of the whites, who sometimes 
committed depredaUons^upor rthem.t It appe^ rs^Jiow- 

* The Indian name of this pond svas Wequa-nock; the name 
of the Oblong River was Webotuck. The Dutch name was 
Minkinkill.o^ Mink B took. .. , ,, r *! . TVT^vnvian 

t These Indians were favored with the labors of the Moiavian 
Missionaries, who visited these parts early in the last century 
for the instruction of the heathen. One of these missionaries of 
the name of David Bruce, died in this town in .49. He was a 
SCO ran, and labored many years preaching the gospe in this 
rT-rion. His bones now repose on the eastern border ot the Iridi- 
an Pond, within what was formerly the Indian village, on land 
now owrled by Andrew Lake. The stone ei;ected over his ^rave 
is yet in a state of tolerable preservation. The following is the 

epitaph : — ^ . , t^ 

^ David Bruce, 

From Edinburgh in Scotland, 

Minister of 

The Brethren's Church 

Among the Indians, 

Depart'd 1749. 



12 HISTORY OF THE 

ever, that the inhabitants, generally, cultivated a spirit 
of kindness and friendship towards them ; and the 
records of the town furnish evidence that their sriev- 
ances were redressed with as little delay as possible.* 
In this way they were kept quiet, and gradually disap- 
peared from the town. The last of them departed in 
about fifteen years after the settlement commenced, 
having sold their lands to Thomas Barnes. The 
names of those who signed the deed were Nequiti- 
maug and Bartholomeiv, and they were the last of the 
tribe who had their head quarters at the Indian Pond. 



CHAPTER III. 

Country Grants. — Daniel Jackson. — Home Lots. — First Settlers* 

The township was sold, according to the order of 
the Assembly, on the second Wednesday of October, 

* At a town meeting, March 25, 1745, " Voted, That Mr. John 
Williams shall be an agent to go to the Assembly in May next 
to get a taxing on our lands, and to acquaint the Assembly that 
the Indians are uneasy about their lands." 

Voted, That William Spciicer and Garrit W'inegar shall be a 
committee to agree with the Indians about the mare that Samuel 
Dunham, Jr., unjustly took from them. 

December 8, 1745, William Spencer and Thomas Hamlin 
chosen fence viewers, both for the English and Indians, and to 
prize the damage done to the Indians, in their fields, by creatures 
belonging to this town. 

March 6, 1746. Voted, That Messrs. Timoihy Phelps and 
Garrit Winegar, be a committee to enquire about the damage 
complained of by the Indians, and if they can find just reason to 
suspect any particular person to have done said damages, that 
they, in behalf of said Indians, bring actions agninsthim, the cost 
of which the town will defray, if no particular person can be con- 
victed of it. — Extracted from the ancient Town Records. 



TOWN OF SHARON* 13 

1738. It will be observed, that the committee who 
laid out the township, mention in their report to the 
Assembly, that there had been laid out, in country 
grants, about four hundred acres. This was land ly- 
ing near Hitchcock' s Corner. One piece was laid out 
to Samuel Orvis, of Farmington, containing 300 acres, 
and another piece was laid out to Jonathan Bird, of 
the same place. Both pieces were laid out by Mr. 
Lewis, the surveyor before mentioned, about the time 
of the original survey of the township. This grant 
included a tract of land of the very first quality, and 
extended as far north as to include the farm of the 
late Captain Asa Hitchcock. Orvis and Bird never 
occupied their lands, but, before the year 1734, sold 
them to one Daniel Jackson, and the patent was taken 
out in Jackson's name, and the land, for many years 
after, was called Jackson's Patent. Daniel Jackson 
was the first white man that ever lived in Sharon. — 
His house stood where the house belonofinor to the 
Sharon Manufacturing Company now stands. He was 
originally from Newtown, in Fairfield County, but at 
the time of his purchase he lived in Dover, New York. 
His son, Jehiel Jackson, who was known to many per- 
sons now living, and who once lived where Clark 
Maxam now lives, was the first white child born in 
Sharon. Mr. Jackson lived but a few years in the 
town. In February, 1739, he sold his Patent to Gar- 
rit JVinegar,* a Dutchman, and himself removed to 
Great Barrington, Massachusetts. This last named 
gentleman built a grist-mill at the corner within the 

* The fertile valley of the Oblons[ had early attracted the atten- 
tion of the emigrants from Germany, who had settled at what is 
called Ike German Camp, on the Hudson River. When Sharon 
was settled, the jDc/tz??zrt^^r family was established at Leedsville, 
and the Winegar family at Hitchcock's Corner. Uirick Wine- 
gar^ a native of Germany, was the patriarch of the Winegar fam- 
ily, so numerous in this region, and he was the father of Garrit 
Winegar. 

0| 



14 HISTORY OF THE 

limits of Sharon, and it was at this mill that the corn 
was ground which fed the first settlers of Sharon.* 

Immediately after the sale of the township, a num- 
ber of the purchasers came on for the purpose of ex- 
ploring, and to determine in what part of the town the 
settlement should be made. After exploring the lands 
and viewinor their situation, it was found that the cen- 
tre of the township was very unfavorably situated for 
the tnwji plot. It was on a high ridge of land, where 
the face of the country was forbidding and uncom- 
fortable. After mature deliberation, it was determined 
to fix the settlement on a street, laid out about sixty 
rods east of the present town street, and to run through 
the whole length of the township. This location was 
afterwards abandoned, because of the lime rock which 
pervaded it to such a degree as to render it exceed- 
ingly difficult to procure a supply of water. 

All the individuals who came on to explore in the 
fall of 1738, returned to their families except one, who 
was William Goodrich. He brought his family with 
him, and spent the winter, which was a very severe 
one, with no other neighbors than the Indians, nearer 
than the Dutch settlements in the Oblontr. The next 
spring, however, brought a large accession to the 
number of inhabitants, and from that period the settle- 
ment of the town may be said to have commenced. 

By the sale of the township, each purchaser of a 
right had become possessed of one fifty-third part of 
the town, except Jackson's Patent, which he held in 
common with the other purchasers. Provision had 
been made by law for the division of the land among 

♦ Captain Wine^ai* was a respectable and worthy man, and 
enjoyed the confidence of the citizens of Sharon, liavin? often 
been appointed to various offices. He died in 1755, and in his 
last will he made provision for fourteen children, to wit : nine 
sons, Isaac, Hcndrick, Ulrick, Garrif., John, Samuel, Johannes, 
Jacob, and one infant; and five dau5;hter5i, to wit: Susannah, 
Uamu/.h, Cnlharinc, Mary and Elizabeth. 



TOWN OF SHARON. 15 

the owners, from time to time, as they might wish, 
and the settlers took early measures to effect that ob- 
ject. The first division was into lots of about eighty 
acres each, which w'as to furnish the Home lot or res- 
idence of the proprietor. A Committee was appoint- 
ed to lay out a lot of eighty acres, which was called 
the Standard lot, and all the other lots were made to 
conform to this in value, the quantity to be more or 
less, according to the quality. The highways at the 
centre of the township were so laid out as to form 
squares of a half mile each ; some of the home lots 
were laid out wliolly on one side of the street, and 
some on both sides, accordino; to the situation of the 
land. The Standard lot was the one adjoining Jack- 
son's Patent, now owned by John B. Lovel. The 
settlers principally located on the main street leading 
from Jackson's Patent, now Hitchcock' s Corner^ to 
Salisbury. Some, however, settled on the mountain 
and some in the valley, and in the course of a year or 
two nearly the whole territory of the first society was 
occupied. A large proportion of the first inhabitants 
of Sharon were from Lebanon and Colchester, in the 
county of Windham ; some few were from Norwalk 
and Stamford, in Fairfield county, and several families 
were from the Old Plijmouth Colony. As they re- 
moved into the town they located themselves upon the 
several Home-lots which they had taken up, and by 
the next fall, were all comfortably provided with 
homes and other necessaries. 



16 HISTOUY OF THE 



CHAPTER IV. 

Incorporation of the town— First town meeting — Rev. Peter Pratt— Meeting 
house— Deatlis, &c. 

During the process of locating and settling the 
township, the inhabitants enjoyed no corporate privi- 
leges, nor had the town received any other name than 
that given it by the committee who laid it out in 1733. 
After so many inhabitants had removed into the town 
as came in the spring and summer of 1739, it became 
important that they should be invested with the usual 
privileges of towns, and that they should receive a 
corporate name. A meeting was accordingly holden, 
and Captain Jonathan Dunham was appointed agent 
to make application to the assembly for a charter, 
with the usual privileges of towns. The assembly, at 
its session in October, 1739, upon the memorial of 
the inhabitants, presented by captain Dunham, incor- 
porated the township by the name of Sharon, and 
authorized captain Dunham to call the first town 
meeting.* This was holden, under the direction of 

* The following is a copy of the act of incorporation : 

Anno Regni Regis Georgii Secundi 13o 
Connecticut Colony — 

At a General Assembly holden at New Haven, in his Majes- 
ty's Colony of Connecticut, in New England, in America, on the 
second Thursday of October, being the 11th day of said month, 
and continued by several adjournments until the 3ist day of the 
same month, annoque Domini 1739. Upon the memorial of the 
inhabitants of the southernmost town on the west side of the 
Ousatonic river, shewing to the assembly the number of settlers 
now in said town, and the circumstances they are under, and 
praying for the countenance and favor of this assembly, first, in 
allowing them to be formed as a town, and to have the privileges 
of other towns in this colony, also to call and settle some orthodox 
minister in the work of the ministry among them. 

Resolved by this Assembly, that the inhabitants of said town, 
qualified as the law directs, shall have and enjoy all such rights 
and privileges, and ha+'c such powers as are usually granted to 



TOWN OF SlIAUON, 17 

Captain Dunham, at the house of Nathaniel Sliinncr^ 
Esquire, on the 11th day of December, 1739, old 
style, which is the same as the 22d day of December, 
new style, being the anniversary of the landing of the 
Pilgrims at Plymouth. The several town officers 
were appointed, and the town fully organized for mu- 
nicipal purposes. For the information of the present 
generation, and to show in what way the business of 
this meeting was conducted, its proceedings are here 
copied from the records, preserving accurately the 
orthography of the original. 

" The Inhabitance of Sharon aplying Themselves to 
the Genral assembly in October Last Past for Town 
Priviledges, Cap Dunham was mad Choice of to Rep- 
resent the Town to the Assembly, and having obtain- 
ed the Desiar of the town he being ordered by the 
Assembly to Warn the Inhabitance in order To Chuse 
town officers which Being Dune the Inhabitance 
being met on the 11 day of December In ye yeare 
1739 at the house of Natli 11. Skinner In Sharon And 
then opened the meeting as the Law Dricts 

Cap Dunham Was Chosen moderator 

Leu Jabez Creppen John Sprague and Cap Jona- 
than Dunham Was Chosen Select men for the year 
Insewing 

Nath Skinner Was Chosen town Clark 

James Smith was Chosen Constable and Sworn as 
the Law Directs 



other towns in tliis colony and that said inhabitants shall have 
liberty to call and settle some orthodox minister of the gospel in 
the work of the ministry in that place, taking the advice of the 
ministers of the neighboring churches, and that the town hereafter 
be called by the name of Sharon. And captain Jonathan Dun- 
A«m of said town, is hereby appointed and empowered to cause 
the inhabitants of said town to meet in said town on the second 
Wednesday of December next, to choose town officers in said 
town for the year ensuing. 



18 HISTORY OF THE 

George Way was Chosen Granjuery and sworn as 
the Law Directs 

Ebenezer Mudg William Tickner Ebenezer ffrisbie 
and Cornelus hamlin Was Chosen Surveys of high 
Ways and Sworn as the Law Directs 

Jeremiah foster Samuel Mudg and Thomas Crep- 
pen Was Chosen fence vewers and sworn as the Law 
Directs 

Samuel Comstock Was Chosen Colector 

Nathl. Skinner Jun Was Chosen Leather Sealer 

Nathl. Skinner Jonathan Dunham and John 
Sprague Was Chosen a Com'tt. to go after a Minister. 

Nathl. Skinner and Lew. Jabez Creppen chosen a 
Com'tt. to Lay out a Beuring Place 

It was farther voted that a Note or Warning In wri- 
ting set up at The house of John Sprague and Nathl. 
Skinner and at Garrit winegars mill Six Days before 
a town meeting Given Reasons of Said Meeting, 
Shall be a Lawful Warning for a town meeting. 

farther voted that Swin haven a Ring in their Noses 
Shall be accounted an orderly Greater." 

We have seen that at the first town meeting mea- 
sures were taken to procure a minister to preach the 
gospel to the inhabitants. They evidently contem- 
plated the employment of a minister in the early set- 
tlement of the town, and such, too, it seems was the 
intention of the Assembly in sequestering two rights 
for the support of the gospel. This aid was afforded 
in order to assist a community which must necessarily 
have been weak and feeble in its infancy, in having a 
supply of the word of life, and the benefit of religious 
ordinances. Prompted by these encouragements, the 
first inhabitants of Sharon took early measures to 
settle a minister. The committee appointed at the 
first town meeting made application to Mr. Peter 
Pratt of Lebanon, a candidate for the ministry, and a 
graduate of Yale College, of the class of 1736, and on 



TOWN OF SHARON. 19 

the 8th day of January, 1740, the town called him 
" upon trial for some convenient time," and laid a tax 
of fifteen shillings on a right for the payment of his 
services. His labors were acceptable to the people, 
and on the 14th day of March following, he was invi- 
ted to settle over the church and cono;reo[ation in the 
work of the ministry. The town voted him a salary 
which would amount to about two hundred dollars 
per annum.* Mr. Goodrich and Mr. Sprague were 
appointed to treat with Mr. Pratt and to present to him 
the offers of the town. These were accepted by him, 
and the time fixed for the ordination was the last Wed- 
nesday in April. It is supposed that it took place at 
that time, and that the services were performed in a 
private dwelling, as no place of public worship had 
been provided at that time. 

The ministry being thus established, the next busi- 
ness in order was to provide a place of public worship; 
and to this object the attention of the town was soon 

* Town meeting, January 8, 1740. 

Voted that Mr. Pciei- Pratt, shall be called by us upon trial 
for some convenient time. 

Voted that Deacon Nathaniel Skinner, Capt. Dunham and 
John Sprague, shall be a committee to tall Mr, Peter Pratt for 
some convenient time of probation for the settling in the work of 
the ministry, and that said committee is authorized to agree with 
him for liis wages. 

March 11, 1740. Voted to call Mr. Peter Pratt to the work of 
the ministry among us in order to ordination. 

March 20, 1740. Voted to Mr. Pratt for his stated salary 210 
pounds a year in money which is as silver at 29 shillings per 
ounce, and for this year 140 pomids, and to rise ten pounds a year 
until it comes to the 210 pounds, and there to stand during the 
time of his ministry amongst us. 

Voted, that if Mr. Pratt's necessity calls, and the ability of the 
town will allow it, then to give him more. 

March 2.5, 1740. Voted that the day for the ordination of Rev, 
Mr. Pratt shall be the last Wednesday of April next. 

Voted that Capt. Dunham, Nath. Skinner, Mr. Goodrich, Mr. 
Sprague, Mr. Way, are a committee to order the affairs for the 
ordination of Mr. JPratt. 



20 HISTORY OF THE 

turned. On the 23d of June, 1740, the town voted to 
build a meeting house at some convenient time 55 feet 
by 45, and 22 feet posts. This would have been a 
large house for those times, and as it was probably 
found to be more expensive than the circumstances of 
the town would authorize, it was abandoned for that 
year. In the mean time the inhabitants met alter- 
nately on the Sabbath, for public worship, at the house 
of Captain Dunham, and at the house of Mr. Pardee, 
and in the milder season of the year, the meetings 
were held in Mr. Pardee's barn. For temporary ac- 
commodation, and until a better house could be pro- 
vided, it was voted, in the spring of 1741, to build a 
meeting house of logs or poles, 36 feet by 20. Where 
this temporary log meeting house stood, is not now 
known. It was used but a short time, as while it was 
building, measures were taking by the town to build 
a house, which should be of sufficient dimensions to 
accommodate all the worshippers. It was voted that 
the new house should be 45 feet by 35, and 20 feet 
posts, and Captain Dunham^ Ensign Spraguc^ and 
Sergeant Pardee were appointed a committee to su- 
perintend its erection. A committee,* appointed by 

* This committee consisted oi John Boslvslck of New Milford, 
and Samncl Lcv:is and John Mills of Kent. 

June 23, 1740. Voted that we will proceed to build a meeting* 
house at some convenient time. 

Voted that the bigness of said meeting house shall be as fol- 
loweth, that is to say, fifty-five feet in length and forty-five feet 
wide, and twenty-two feet between joints. 

Voted that Mr. Sprague, Mr. Jackson, and Mr. Chapman are 
a committee to call the government's committee to fi-x. a place for 
the setting of a meeting house on. 

July 22, 1740. Voted that John Sprague, Samuel Hutchinson, 
Ebenezer Jackson, Capt. Dunham andNath. Skinner, shall be a 
committee to attend the government's committee when they shall 
come to fix a place for the meeting house. 

March 24, 1741. Voted that there shall be a house builded in 
this town for to meet in, on Sabbath, at present, of logs or poles, 
thirty-six feet long, and twenty-four feet wide. Mr. Winegar, 



TOWN OF SHARON. 21 

the government were called upon to fix its location, 
and it was determined that it should be erected in the 
middle of the street, directly opposite the tavern now 
kept by Mr. St. John. The building was commenced 
early in the spring of 1742, and in the course of the 
season it was so far completed, as that public meet- 
ings were held in it in the following October. But it 
was five or six years before it was finished and glazed. 
The Hon. Philip Livingston* who had become a 
large owner of real estate in the town, generously 
offered to give a bell for the use of the meeting house, 
provided the town would build a steeple. It was 
voted that this should be done at the north end of the 
meeting house, and Messrs. Dunham, Pardee and 
Hutchinson were appointed a committee to return the 
thanks of the town to Mr. Livino-ston for his munifi- 
cent offer. t For some reason the bell was never pro- 
cured, nor the steeple erected. The meeting house 
stood about twenty-five years, when it was found too 
small for public accommodation. 

Lieu. Hutchinson and Mr. Pardee was chosen a committee to go 
on with the building, and to have the same fit to meet in by the 
last of May next. 

* This gentleman was the lord and proprietor of the manor of 
Livingston, in the counties of Columbia and Renselaer, N. Y. 
and one of his Majesty's Privy Counsellors for the Province of 
New York. He was the father of Governor William Livings- 
ton of New Jersey, and grand father of the Rev. John H. Liv- 
ingston, President of the college at New Brunswick. 

tTown meeting, June 6, 1743. Voted that we, the town of 
Sharon, accept of Mr. Livingston's oiFer of a bell. Voted to 
build abelfiy or steeple at the north end of our meetinghouse, for 
the hanging of a bell. Capt. Dnnham,Mx. Pardee and Lieut. 
Htttchinson, was chosen a committee to return thanks to Mr. 
Livingston for his offer, and carry on the building of a belfry or 
steeple to hang a bell in. Voted that Lieut. Hutchinson and 
Deacon Jackson shall be added to the meeting committee to go 
forward with the finishing of our meeting house. 

Town meeting, July 23, 1747. Voted, that the vacancy left un- 
clapboarded at the north end of the meeting house, in order to 
build a steeple for a bell be clapboarded. 



22 HISTORY OF THE 

The first death recorded is that of Miriam, the wife 
of William Goodrich, Jun. which occurred on the 22d 
ofi^pril, 1740. 

The following persons also departed this life during 
the same season, viz. Asa Rood, David Skimier, Mary, 
wife of Natlu Skinner, Esq. Deacon Hezekiah King-, 
Benjamin Fuller, Jonathan Dunham, Jun. Daniel 
Bouton, Daniel Bouton, Jun. in all nine persons. 

The first person born in the town after Jehiel 
Jackson, before mentioned, was Sarah Bates, daugh- 
ter io John and Anna Bates. She was afterwards the 
wife of John Randall, and lived to a very advanced 
age. The first marriage in the town was that of El- 
nathan Goodrich to Elizabeth Showers. It was cele- 
brated on New Year's day, January 1, 1740. 

The records of the church in Sharon for the first 
fifteen years, are lost. It is supposed that Nathaniel 
Skinner and Hezekiah King were the first deacons. 
Deacon King, however, died during the first year, and 
was probably succeeded by Jonathan Elmer. The 
first pound was erected where Mr. Jay S. Canjield 
now lives. It would seem from the votes on this sub- 
ject, and also in relation to the location of the meet- 
ing house, that there was some strife between the in- 
habitants, as to where the centre should be established. 
Some were for having it fixed half a mile south of the 
place finally established, but the decision of the gov- 
ernment's committee seems to have quieted all difficul- 
ty on the subject. 



TOM N OF SHARON. 23 

CHAPTER V. 

reposition of the Rev. Peter Pratt. 

We have seen that Rev. Peter Pratt was ordained 
in April, 1740, as the first minister of Sharon. The 
people were well united in him, and he settled under 
fair prospects of a long and useful ministry. He was 
married soon after his settlement to 3Irs. Mary Met- 
calf, of Lebanon, and had several children. It would 
seem that the town showed him several acts of kind- 
ness, such as furnishing him with his fire-wood, paying 
the expenses of hiring a horse for a journey to Leba- 
non, and in various other ways showing him marks of 
their respect and confidence. But a dark cloud soon 
obscured the cheering prospects of Mr. Pratt, and his 
ministry soon terminated in disgrace. It was soon 
found that he was addicted to intemperate drinking, 
and the most painful sensations were produced, as this 
fact, at first only suspected, was verified by indubita- 
ble indications. It is probable that his conduct was 
borne with for some time after it became evident that 
this habit was growing upon him, in the hope that the 
admonitions of his friends and his own sense of pro- 
priety might reform him. The first intimation of dis- 
pleasure on the part of the town, which appears on 
record, is a vote passed on the 9th day of January, 
174G, when it was solemnly voted that they would not 
abide by the agreement with him in relation to fur- 
nishing him with fire-wood. His conduct was borne 
with, however, for about two years longer, when his 
intemperance became so notorious as to forbid further 
tolerance. A committee appointed by the town for 
that purpose, made a complaint to the association of 
New Haven county, accusing Mr. Pratt of habitual 
and incurable intemperance, offering to prove the 



24 HISTORY OF THE 

charges preferred, and requesting an investigation by 
the Rev. body to whom the complaint was made. 
Mr. Pratt was cited to appear before the association 
at a place then called Wcstbury^ now Watei'toicn^ on 
the 13th day of October, 1747, to answer to the charges 
preferred against him, and the town were notified to 
appear and prosecute the complaint. The particulars 
of the trial are not known, but it resulted in a decree 
by the association, that the pastoral relation between 
Mr. Pratt and the people of Sharon should be dis- 
solved, and that he should be prohibited from the fur- 
ther exercise of ministerial functions.* Thus ended 
the ministry of the Rev. Peter Pratt. Like others 

* Town meeting, January 9, 1746. Further it was put to vote 
whether the town would abide by the original agreement with 
Mr. Peter Pratt, as to the article of fire-wood, that is to say, 
whether they will annually procure, cut and draw home for him 
his fire- wood, voted in the negative. 

Town meeting, Sept. 17, 1747. Voted, that we will choose a 
committee to send to the moderator of the association : at the same 
meeting, Matlhcxv St. John, John Gay, Lieut. John Pardee, Dea- 
con Ebcnezer Jackson, Jonathan Davis, Deacon Ebenezcr Fris- 
bie, Jacob Bacon are chosen our committee to apply themselves to 
the moderator of the association for a council to consider our ag- 
grievances, and said committee to make all proof they can of Mr. 
Pratt's misconduct from tlie time he has been settled in the town 
until the council sits, in order to be laid before the council, and 
also to lay the same before the council when it comes. 

Town meeting, Oct. 8, 1747. Whereas a complaint and charge 
has, by Messrs. Matthew St. John, Ehenezer Jackson, John Gay 
and John Pardee, been carried to the Rev. association of the county 
of Nev/ Haven, and thereupon the moderator of the consociation 
of New Haven county has cited the said Matthew St. John, Eben- 
ezer Jackson, John Gay and John Pardee, to appear at Westbu- 
ry, in the town of Waterbury, before said consociation, upon the 
l3th day of October instant, at 12 o'clock, at the house of Mr. 
Samuel Heacork, Jun. then and there to prosecute said charge and 
complaint. Voted, that the said Matthew St. John, Ebenezer 
Jackson, John Gay and John Pardee be our committee to appear 
according to said citation, and to prosecute said charge and com- 
plaint at said Westbury and elsewhere, if needful, till the matter 
tae finished. 



TOWN OF SHARON. 25 

who have been the subjects of ecclesiastical censure, 
he seems to have been dissatisfied with the result, and 
to have made an effort to procure another hearing, in 
the hope of being restored to his former standing in 
the ministry. He invited the town to join him in 
calling the association together for that purpose, and 
himself offered to bear the expense of the meeting; 
but the proposition was rejected.* Mr. Pratt contin- 
ued to reside in the town for many years after his sus- 
pension. He had become the proprietor of a large 
and valuable real estate in virtue of his being the first 
minister of the town, an estate which at this time 
would probably be worth twenty thousand dollars. 
It contained some of the best land in the town. His 
home lot contained more than eighty acres, and in- 
cluded all the land on the east side of the town street 
owned by the heirs of the late Mr. Perry, and on the 
west side of the street all owned by Mr. St. John and 
most of that owned by Mr. Berry, extending half a 
mile each way from the street. He owned other 
large and valuable tracts of land, in the whole more 
than six hundred acres. It appears, however, that he 
was embarrassed in his circumstances, and that all 
his real estate was mortgaged at an early day to secure 
debts in which he had involved himself, and to some 
of his more importunate creditors he mortgaged his 
negro wench, f In 1750 he sold his home lot to Sam- 

* Town meeting, Dec. 16, 1747. Put to vote whether the town 
will join Mr. Pratt in calling together the consociation of New 
Haven county, upon Mr. Pratt's cost and charge, to see whether 
they will take off the suspension and prohibition laid upon Mr. 
Pratt by the consociation convened at Westbury in Waterbury, in 
October last past. This vote passed in the negative. 

t The following bill of sale executed by Mr. Pratt is copied 
from the first volume of Sharon records. 

"To all people to whom these presents shall come, greeting: 

Know ye that J, Peter Pratt of Sharon, in the county of New 

Haven, in the colony of Connecticut, in New England, for the 

consideration of two hundred pounds in Bills of Public Credit of 

3 



26 HISTORY OF THE 

uel Hutchinson , Esq. and it is not now known whefe 
he afterwards lived during his stay in town. His 
wife died on the ]Oth day of December, 1755. It ap- 
pears that he was the first clerk of the court of pro- 
bate for the district of Sharon, which was established 
in 1755. He held the office but a short time, and he 
then returned to Lebanon where he died. He was 
undoubtedly a man of superior talents, and would 
probably have attained a high standing in the minis- 
try had it not been for his unfortunate propensity. 
He left one son, who was a shoe-maker and tanner, 

the Old tenor, received to my full satisfaction of Messrs. Isaac De 
La Matter, and Benjamin HoUister, both of Duchess county, in 
the Province of New York, do sell and convey to them, the said 
Isaac De La Matter and Benjamin Hollister, their and each of 
their heirs and assigns, my negro wench, called by the name of 
Peggy to be lo their use and service, and to the use and service of 
their and each of their heirs and assigns forever, that is, during the 
life of said negro wench. However, it is to be understood and is 
hereby provided, that whereas the said Isaac De La Matter and 
Benjamin Hollister have, by an obligatory bond under their 
hands and seals, well executed, dated May the 24th, 1748, with 
the said Peter Pratt, and at the desire and for the debt of the said 
Peter Pratt, jointly and severally, bound themselves to Major 
Martin Hoffman of Duchess county, aforesaid, in the penal sum 
of two hundred pounds, current money of the Province of New 
York, conditioned for the payment of one hundred pounds, money 
of New York, upon the 2Ist day of May, which will be A. D. 
1750, with the lawful interest of the Province of New York, which 
is seven pounds per cent, from the date of said bond till paid ; if 
therefore, the said Peter Pratt, or his heirs shall procure good and 
sufficient security, and deliver to the said Isaac De La Matter 
and Benjamin Hollister, or their heirs, so as to indemnify and 
save harmless the said De La Matter and Hollister, their heirs, 
&c. from the aforesaid obligation, upon or before the said 21st day 
of May, which will be A. D. 1750, then the above conveyance to 
be void, otherwise to be a good and ample bill of sale of said 
negro wench, to all intents and purposes in the law. In witness 
whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the 25th of May, 
A. p. 1748. Peter Pratt. 

Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of 

Samuel Hutchinson, 

Nathaniel Richards." 



TOWN OF SHARON. 27 

and who resided in different parts of the town, but 
there are none of his descendants remaining among 
us.* 



CHAPTER VI. 

Rev. JohnSearl — Seating the meeting house — County of Litchfield— Society 
of Ellsworth — Oblong — Dismission of Mr. Searl. 

After Mr. Pratt was dismissed, a considerable 
time elapsed before the town was again supplied with 
an ordained minister. Various committees were em- 
ployed and different candidates were applied to, but 
much difficulty was experienced in obtaining a suita- 
ble man. A Mr. Camp was first employed, and after- 
wards a Mr. Richards, and on the 25th day of July, 

1748, it was voted "that Jonathan Elmer, f Daniel 
Brinsmade,\ Aaron Hutchinson and Elijah Mason be 
the candidates to be applied to in the order in which 
they stand. Neither of the candidates above named 
could be procured, but in the early part of the year 

1749, Mr. John Searl o{ Simsbury, was employed as 

* Since the foregoing was written, Capt. John Wilson, an aged 
and respectable citizen of tlie town has informed the author, that 
in the year 1770, he went to school to Mr. Pratt, at Greenwich, in 
Fairfield county. He remembers hearing him speak of his minis- 
try in Sharon, and the reason which he gave for his dismission 
was, that the people complained of his being engaged in specula- 
tions. He was then somewhat advanced in life, and somewhat 
addicted to intemperate drinking. 

t Mr. Elmer was a son of Deacon Jonathan Elmer of Sharon, 
and was afterwards a distinguished minister at Elizabethtown, 
New Jersey. 

t Mr, Brinsmade was afterwards minister at Washington, 
Conn, and was grandfather to General Daniel B. Brinsmade of 
that place. 



28 TOWN OF SHARON. 

a candidate. Mr. Searl was a graduate of Yale Col- 
lege, of the class of 1745, and it seems that his minis- 
trations were acceptable to the people of Sharon. On 
the 3d day of April, he was formally invited to become 
the minister of the town, and an offer made of 220 
ounces of silver as a salary, and 420 ounces of silver 
for a settlement. The ecclesiastical constitution of 
the colony required, that before a minister could be 
settled, he must be examined and approved of by the 
association of the county, touching his qualifications 
for the ministry, and as a meeting of that reverend 
body was soon to be holden at Old Milford, it was 
voted that Mr. Searl should be sent there at the ex- 
pense of the town, and John Gay was appointed to 
accompany him. The first Wednesday in August, 
1749, was fixed upon for the ordination, and a large 
committee was appointed to make provision for the 
ordaining council, which met at Mr. Pardee^s. Mr. 
Searl purchased the 23d home-lot, being the place 
now occupied by Dr. Robert W. Smith, and lived 
upon it during his ministry in the town. 

The first vote on the subject of seating the meeting 
house was passed soon after the settlement of Mr. 
Searl. The ancient method of constructing churches 
was, to build pews around by the walls, and slips in 
the centre, and in all cases the gentlemen sat on the 
right hand of the minister, and the ladies on the left. 
An innovation was made upon this manner of seating 
by a vote passed on the 19th day of December, 1749. 
A committee was appointed who were directed to seat 
the meeting house by dignity, age and list, and it was 
further ordered that men and their wives should be 
seated together. Similar votes were passed from time 
to time, as changes in the condition of the society 
rendered a new seating necessary. In one instance 
the committee were directed to seat the meeting house 
according to age, list and quality. 



TOWN OF SHARON. 29 

Up to the year 1751, the towns on the west side of 
the Ousatonic river had belonged to the county of 
New Haven. About this time measures were taken 
to form a new county in this part of the colony, and 
much contention was had in respect to its extent, and 
in respect to the location of the county seat. The 
people of this town were in favor of a small county, 
with a view to bring the court house nearer to them 
than they could expect if a large county were formed. 
Many town meetings were had on the subject* and 
much zeal was manifested. All contention ceased, 
however, upon the formation of the county of Litch- 
field, with its present limits. 

After it was determined, in 1739, to establish the 
town plot, at a place so far distant from the centre of 
the township, it was foreseen that those living in the 
south-east part of the town would be taking early 
measures to enjoy the benefit of religious institutions 
among themselves. At one of the earliest meetings of 
the proprietors, a vote was passed, directing their 
committee to lay out highways and lots in that part of 

* Town meeting, Sept. 2, 1751. Voted that we do desire a 
new county in this part of the government. 

Voted tliat we w^ill apply to the honorable assembly in May 
next for tliat end. 

Voted tliat we do desire, with submission to the pleasure of the 
assembly, that the limits or bounds may be, on the south, the south 
bound of the government's land on the west side of Ousatonic 
river, the north bounds of New Milford and the south bounds of 
Litchfield. The east line, the east bounds of Litchfield and of 
Torrington, and from thence northwai-d to the Massachusetts 
line; the north line tlie line between us and the Massachusetts; 
the west line, the line between this government and the govern- 
ment of New York, and that Cornvjodl may be the county town. 

Voted that John Williams, Esq. be our agent to go to the Hon- 
orable General Assembly upon said business in October next. 

Town meeting, Dec. 17, 1751. Put to vote whether we will 
send an agent or agents to Kent, to meet some gentlemen from 
Woodbury, to consult upon the affairs of the county. Voted in 



the negative. 



3* 



30 HISTORY OF THE 

the town with a view to the establishment of a distinct 
religious society. The town voted, as early as 1753, 
to set off a new society, with nearly the same limits as 
the present society of Ellsworth occupies.* 

The reason why the division of the esclesiastical 
corporation was so long postponed was, that the par- 
ties could never agree as to the limits of the new soci- 
ety. Those who petitioned that a new society should 
be formed, required that the dividing line should run 
north and south, throuo^h the whole leno-th of the 
township. The majority of the town, on the other 
hand, would never consent to this arrangement, and 
thus the controversy was continued for near half a 
century. In 1767, a committee of the General Assem- 



* Town meeting, April 8, 1753. Upon the motion made by 
the people in the easterly part of the town for a new society, 
voted that we are willing a society should be set off by a line 
agreed upon by a committee that shall be chosen to make such a 
line. Messrs. Samuel Hutcki7iso7i, David Hamilton and John 
Marvine, chosen to be a committee for the purpose aforesaid. 
voted that this meeting be adjourned for the space of one hour, and 
then the meeting opened again according to adjournment, and the 
aforesaid committee made report to the meeting of a line, by them 
agreed upon, for anew society, and it is as follows, viz, beginning 
at the south-east corner of the lot on which Woolstone Brockway 
hves, being in the south line of the township, from thence the line 
runs northerly straight to the north-east corner of Deacon Ebene- 
zer Frisbie's land, where he now lives, thence running according 
as the highway runs that conies out easterly of and near to Jehiei 
Pardee's house, where he now dwells, and then a straight line 
northerly to the middle of the north line of Caleb Strong's lot on 
which he now dwells, and then easterly, as the highway runs to 
Deacon Ebenezer Jackso)i'S, then northerly and then turning east- 
erly as the highway runs by John Graifs till it comes to where 
the road crosses the Great Hollow Brook, and from thence a due 
east line till it comes to Oitsatonic river. 

Voted that the above said report of the committee is accepted. 

May 3, 1753. It was put to vote whether we will grant the 
request of those who move for a new line, for a new society differ- 
ent from what was before granted, and it was universally nega- 
tived. 



TOWN OF SHARON. 31 

bly* was sent out to examine the situation ofthe town 
with reference to a new society, and John Williams, 
Simeon Smith, John Canjield, Ebcnezer Gay and Sam- 
uel Elitier, were appointed a committee to wait upon 
them, but nothing was done. The people on the 
mountain were allowed some privileges from time to 
time, to enable them to hire preaching in the winter 
season. A part of their ministerial taxes were aba- 
ted, and for a number of years an annual vote ofthe 
town was passed, authorizing the minister to preach 
one Sabbath in each of the three winter months, in 
that part of the town. By this assistance from the 
town, and by individual subscription they were gen- 
erally supplied with preaching four months in the 
year. The meetings in early times were holden at 
the house now occupied by Daniel Parsons, Esq. 

Another religious society was formed at an early 
day at tne south part of the town, embracing inhabit- 
ants of both colonies. The meeting house stood on 
the colony line, and was known for many years by 
the name of the round top meeting house. The Rev- 
erend Ebenezer Knibloe was its minister for more than 
twenty-five years. This gentleman was from Scot- 
land. During the rebellion in that country, in the 
year 1745, he favored the interests of the Pretender, 
and upon the defeat of the forces of that unfortunate 
prince, Mr. Knibloe removed to this country. He 
first settled on the west part of Phillip's Patent, in 
Putnam county, New York, but after a stay there 
of about two years he removed to this town and 
gathered the church and society at the Corner. 
He lived at the place now occupied by his grandson, 
Philo Knibloe. He was a sound, sensible man, a good 
preacher, and apparently a sincere Christian. At the 

* This committee consisted of William Pitkin^ Shicbael Conant, 
and Erastus Wolcott. 



32 HISTORY OF TIIE 

commencement of the revolutionary war, he rather 
favored the pretensions of the British king, for which 
reason his conoreaation became disaffected, and he 
relinquished ministerial performances. He died of 
consumption on the 20th day of December, 1785, at 
the age of fifty-six. 

The Rev. Mr. Searl possessed in a good degree, 
the confidence and affection of his people. He had 
been settled over them but a short time, however, be- 
fore his health began to fail, and early in the second 
year of his ministry he was absent a part of the time 
on that account. The town employed other preach- 
ers to supply the pulpit during the interruption of his 
labors, in the hope that his health might be restored 
and his ministry continued. His health, however, 
continued to decline to such a degree, that he deemed 
it his duty to withdraw from pastoral performances, 
and on the 4th Tuesday of June, 1754, he was dis- 
missed with the reluctant consent of the town.* Thus 

* I'own meeiins;, Sept. 6, 1753, Deacon Ebenczer Jackson 
and Deacon Ebnczcr Prisbic chosen a committee to endeavor to 
obtain preaching among: us for the space of two months from this 
tuTie, Mr. Searl having agreed to relinquish his salary for that 
purpose. Voted, tliat said committee advise with the Rev. Mr. 
Searl to whom to apply. 

Town meeting, April 8, 1754. Put to vote whether, consider- 
ing Mr. Searl's infirm state of health, we are wiUing that he 
should be absent from us for the space of half a year from this 
time, the whole or such part of the time as he shall think best, in 
order to use means to recover his health, and to pay him his salary 
for the same time, upon his endeavoring to procure for us as mucrt 
assistance from the neighboring ministers as they shall be willing; 
to afford. Passed in the negative. 

Voted, that Capt. Matthew St. John, Messrs. Nathaniel Skin- 
ner, Joriathan Htoiter, Thomas Bar/i'^s and David Haviilton be a 
committee to go and discour.se with Mr. Searl and see if he will 
make some abatement of some part of his salary, for that time 
when he shall be absent, and to make report to this meeting at 
such time as it may be adjourned to. 

Town meeting, April 18, 1751. Upon a iifiotion made by the 
Rev. Mr. Searl to the town, in town meeting, that, considering 



TOWN OF SHARON. 33 

in the short space of fifteen years the ministry in the 
town was twice made vacant. Mr. Searl soon after 
left the town, believing that his usefulness as a minis- 
ter of the gospel was at an end, and under the appre- 
hension that his days on earth would be few. He 
returned to Simsbury, and contrary to the anticipa- 
tions which were entertained at the time of his dis- 
missal from Sharon, he recovered his health, and on 
the 17th day of January, 17.58, he was installed min- 
ister of Stoneham, 3Iass. in the vicinity of Boston. 

his low and infirm state of health, he has had thoughts of apply- 
ing to the consociation in May next for advice, whether it be not 
best for him to be dismissed from his pastoral relation to this 
church and people, and also to apply to said consociation for a 
dismission upon condition they judge it best. Voted, that if Mr. 
Searl does make up his mind as abovesaid, that Lieut. John 
Pardee, be a committee to accompany him, and to represent and 
act for this town, at said consociation, and to hear their determin- 
ation. 

Town meeting, June 7, 1754. Whereas, the Reverend Mode- 
rator of the Consociation of this county has sent us a notification 
to appear before said consociation at their meeting at our meeting 
house, on the foin-th Tuesday of June instant, to offer reasons, if 
any we have, why the Rev, Mr. Searl, considering his want of 
bodily health, &c. should not be dismissed from his pastoral i ela- 
tion to this town, according to his desire. 

Voted, tiiat Messrs. Jo/in Williams, John Pardee, John Gay, 
John Marvine, and Jonallian Hunler, be a cominittee to represent 
this town before said consociation at their said meeting, and to in- 
form them that we have a dear regard to the Rev. Mr. Searl, and 
the thoughts of his being dismissed from us lie with great weight 
on our minds, yet considering iiis great weakness and long con- 
tinued bodily indisposition, we know not what to say otherwise 
than to entreat the venerable consociauon to lake the matter under 
their consideration and to determine what they think is duty in 
present circumstances, that is, what they judge is like to be most 
for the glory of God, and the greatest interest both of the Rev. Mr. 
Searl and of this people. 

Town meetins:, June '25, 1751. Voted that Messrs. John Wil- 
liams, Ehenezer Jackson and Ebenezer Frisbie be a committee to 
apply to the Reverend Elders present, for advice whom to apply 
to, to preach with us, either for present occasional preaching, or 
to settle with us, and also to act upon said advice. 



34 HISTORY OF THE 

He remained in the ministry there, until the 24th day 
of April, 1776, when he was dismissed.* The rea- 
sons for his second dismissal were assigned in the fol- 
lowing words : " The difficulty of the times, whereby 
there was not a probable prospect of support for his 
family, but more especially on account of his ill 
health occasioned by easterly winds." He afterwards 
removed to Stoughton^ Mass. where he died in the 
early part of the present century. He had one son of 
the name of Samuel, who graduated at Yale College, 
in 1781, and who was a young man of extraordinary 
talents and high promise, but who died at an early 
age. Mr. Searl, himself, was a man of respectable 
abilities and of an elevated standing in the ministry. 
He was a member of an important ecclesiastical coun- 
cil which assembled at New Haven, in October, 1751, 
to settle some disputes which had arisen in one of the 
churches in that town, and which consisted of some 
of the most eminent clergymen in the colony, to wit, 
John Graham, Jedediah Mills, Philemon Robbins, 
Daniel Humphreys, Ebenezer White, Eleazer Wheel- 
ocTc, Benjamin Po7neroy, Benajah Case, Joseph Bel- 
lamy, Samuel Hopkins, James Sproat, Jonathan Lee^ 
and John Searl. 

*A correspondent near Stoneham writes as follows — "From 
widow Rebecca Hays, aged 85, a native of Stoughton, and the 
oldest person in town, 1 learn that Mr. Searl married Hcpsibah 
Duncan, of Stoughton, Mass ; that he had two sons, Samuel and 
John, and two daughters, Betsey and Fanny. Mrs. Hays says 
that he was a learned man, very ortliodox, wrote very good ser- 
mons, and was grand lor telling stories. His delivery was very 
dull. She thinks he was not very active in regard to pastoral 
labors, and is of opinion that some of his discourses were printed, 
but is not certain. She says that it was the opinion at the time, 
that he left Stoneham for fear of the British. He was not settled 
in Stoughton, but used to go out on preaching and missionary 
tours for a few weeks or months at a time." It is stated by Dr. 
Dwight, in his travels, that Mr. Searl and the late Jud^e Noble 
of Wiiliamstown, Mass. were the first persons that ever ascended 



TOWN OF SHARON. 35 



CHAPTER VIII. 

Rev. Cotton Mather Smith.— Church of England.— Rev. Thomas Bavies.— 
Erection of a new Meeting House.— Whitfield. 

In the course of the summer of 1754, the Reverend 
Cotton Mather Smith, of Suffield, was employed by 
the town to preach as a candidate for settlement. — 
He came upon the recomendation of Matthew St. 
John,, who had been an inhabitant of Sharon, but who 
had now removed to Suffield, where he became ac- 
quainted with Mr. Smith. Mr. Smith was a descend- 
ant of the Rev. Henry Smith, the first minister of 
Wethersfield, who came from England in 1638.* — 
The mother of Mr. Smith was a daughter of the cele- 
brated Cotton Mather, and she died in this town at a 
very advanced age. Mr. Smith was born at Suffield 
on the IGth day of October, 1781, and graduated at 
Yale College in 1751. He spent the year previous 
to his visiting Sharon, at Stockbridg-e, Massachusetts, 
with the very celebrated Jonathan Edwards, engaged 
in the benevolent duties of instructing the Indians. — 
Mr. Smith preached as a candidate for more than a 
year, and in the mean time boarded with John Gray, 
Esq., at the north part of the town. He was ordained 
minister of Sharon on the 28th day of August, 1755.* 

Saddle Mountain, the highest mountain in Massachusetts. The 
late Rev. David L. Perry, informed the author that he saw Mr. 
Searl at Williamstovvn when at the age of more than 70 years, 
he performed this laborious undertaking. 

* In a record o( Daniel Cushing, the third town clerk of Hing- 
ham^ Massack'usetts, is this entry: — " Mr. Henry Smith and his 
wife and three sons, and two daughters, and tlu-ee men servants 
and two maid servants, and Thomas Mayer, came from H*»er 
Hall, in Norfolk, and settled in New Hingharii 1G38." Henry 
Smith had a son, Icliabod, who was the father of Samuel Smilk, 
and this last named gentleman was the father of the Rev. Cotton 
Mather Smith. 

• Town Meeting, Dec. 13, 1754. Voted, That Deacon Ebene- 



36 HISTORY OF THE 

He purchased the place which was owned by his pre- 
decessor, Mr. Searl, the same which is now occupied 
by his great-grand-son, Dr. Robert VV. Smith. He was 

zer Jackson, Deacon Ebcnezer Frubie, and Jvhn Williams, be a 
committee to see if they can agree with Mr. Smith, to preach with 
us some time longer, and in the mean time to advise with the com- 
mittee of the Association respecting giving him a call to settle in 
the ministry with us, and to make report to this meeting at such 
time to which it may be adjourned. 

Town Meeting, January 8, 1755. Voted, That M'e will give 
Mr. Cotton JVJather Smith, a call to settle in the work of the gos- 
pel ministry with us. 

Voted, That the former committee, viz. the two Deacons and 
John Williams, Esq., be continued to be our committee, and that 
they inform Mr. Smith that the town have voted to give him a 
call. 

Voted, That said committee confer with Mr. Smith, and know 
which will be most acceptable to him, to have a larger settlement 
and a smaller salary, or a larger salary and smaller settlement, 
and make report to this meeting. 

Voted, That we desire, and will make application to the Gen- 
eral Assembly in May next, for a Probate District in this north- 
west part of this county. 

Town Meeting, January 15, 1755. Voted, That we will make 
such proposals to Mr. Cotton MoAher Smith, to encourage hirn to 
settle with us in the work of the gospel ministry, as shall be equiv- 
alent to the terms on which Mr. Searl settled with us, in such 
form as we shall afterwards conclude upon. 

Voted, That we will give to said Mr. Smith 420 ounces of sil- 
ver, or equivalent in old tenor Bills, for a settlement, to be paid 
in three years after settlement; viz, 140 ounces, or an equivalent 
in old tenor bills, annually, for said three years. 

Voted, That we will give to said Mr. Smith 220 Spanish dol- 
lars, or an equivalent in old tenor bills, for his yearly salary. 

Voted, Tliat the committee last chose to treat with Mr. Smith, 
be continued to be a committee to make the aforesaid proposals to 
him in the nameof the town, and to desire his answer. 

Town Meeting, May 23, 1755. Voted. That we persevere in 
our desire to have Mr. Cotton Mather Smith settle with us in the 
work of the gospel ministry, and would have this our desire man- 
ifested again to him, and also that he be informed that we take a 
grateful notice of what he has now offered to this meeting, and 
also that the Reverend Association of this county be informed of 
this our desire, and therefore chose John Williams, Esq., as our 
agent or representative to go to said Reverend Association, at 



TOWN OF SHARON. 3? 

tnarried, soon after his settlement, to Mrs. Temperance 
Gale, widow of Dr. Moses Gale, of Goshen, N. York, 
and dausjhter of Rav. William Worthington, of the 
parish of VVcstbi^ook, in Sayhrool'. Mr. Smith was 
the minister of Sharon for more than fifty years, and 
during the whole of that period occupied a large 
space in public affairs. Probably no minister evef 
had, in a greater degree, the confidence and affection 
of his people. He is never spoken of at this day, by 

their meeting in New Milford, on Tuesday next, to inform them 
of it, and to ask their farther advice in this matter. 

That part of Mr. Cotton Mather Smith's answer to the town's 
call given in town meeting, and signed with his hand, May 2.3d, 
i755, respecting our proposals for his settlement and salary, was 
in the words following ; viz. " iVs to the settlement and salary 
you have voted me, I have nothing to object against 'em but es- 
teem the offer generous and honorable, and as it will come heavy 
upon some, perhaps, to pay salary and settlement together, so I 
have thought of releasing part of the payment of the salary for a 
time, to be paid to me again when you have finished the payment 
of the settlement, and this I propose to have done in the following 
manner: the first year I shall allow you out of the salary you 
have voted me, 40 dollars, the 2d, 30 dollars, the 3d year 15, ths 
4th year 20, to be repaid to me again, the 5th year 20 more, the 
6th year 20 more, and the 25 dollars that remain, I am willing 
that the town should keep 'em for their own use. — Fromthe ori<ii- 
nal. Entered per John Willia7)is, Register. 

Town Meeting, June 12, 1755. Voted, That we comply with 
the advice of the Reverend Association, respecting the day of the 
ordination of Mr. Cotton Mather Smith to be the Pastor of this 
church and people, and accordingly appoint the 28th day of Au. 
gust next for that purpose. 

Voted, That Messrs, John Gay, John Pardee, and John Mar- 
vin, be a committee to make needful provision for the ordaining 
council, and such other gentlemen as it shall be thought best to 
have entertained at the cost of the town. 

Voted, That the same committee take care to prop and well 
brace up the galleries before said day of ordination. 

Town Meeting, August 20, 1755. Voted, That Lieut. Caleb 
Jewitt, Lieut. Stephen Calkin, and Jonathan Gillett be a commit- 
tee to procure materials for, and to erect a scaffold at the north end 
of the meeting house, for the ordaining council to ordain Mr. 
Smith upon, or, if it should be wet weather, to prop and well se- 
cure the galleries. 

4 



^ HISTORY OF THE 

those who knew him, but with the most unqualified 
respect and veneration. 

A census of the colony was taken in 1756, and the 
popuhition of Sharon was found to be 1 190, about one 
half of the present number of inhabitants. 

From the first settlement of the town, there had 
been several families of the Communion of the Church 
nf England, as it was called, before the Revolution- 
ary war, but they were never sufficiently numerous to 
form a separate congregation, or to maintain public 
worship, until about the year 1755. On the 14th day 
of April, of that year, leave was given, by the town, 
to those of that communion, " to erect a church at 
the corner of the highways that come from the upper 
end of the town and the Iron Works Hollow.^'' This 
was at the head of the street, near Capt. King's. — 
This building was erected, and stood for nearly forty 
years. It is mentioned as a singular circumstance in 
reorard to its construction, that its external coverinor 
was a coat of mortar. Public worship was maintained 
in it for a number of years; the desk being supplied 
by missionaries sent out by the " Honorable Society 
for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign PartsJ^ The 
first of these missionaries who labored here, was the 
Rev. Ebenczer Dibble, whose permanent residence 
was at Stamford, but who had the care of many of 
the churches in the western part of the colony. After 
Mr. Dibble, the Rev. Thomas Davies had the charge 
of the church, in connexion with those at New Mil- 
ford, Roxbury, New Preston, and New Fairfield.* — 

* Mr. Davies was born in Herejorchhire, England, on the 21st 
of Dec. 1736. His father removed to this country in 1745, and set- 
tled in wliat is now called Davies^ HoU(ni\ in the town of Wash- 
ing-ton, then a part of Litchfield. He graduated at Yale College 
in September, 1758, and in 1761 sailed for England for holy or- 
ders. He was ordained Deacon bj'^ the Archbishop of Canterbu- 
ry on the 23d of August, and on the following day was ordained 
Priest, by the same Prelate. The following is a copy of the re- 



TOWN OF SHARON. 3^ 

The leading churchmen in the town were Messrs. Joel 
Harvey^ Job Gould,, Elnathan Goodrich, John Pcn- 
noyer, Simeon RoivJcy, Samuel Hitchcock, Solomon 
Goodrich., and perhnps some others. At one time 
durino^ his ministry, Mr. Davies reported the number 
of families belonging to the parish to be twenty-two^ 
and the number of communicants lo be nineteen. — 
During the Revolutionary war, the church building 
was deserted, turned into a barrack, and never after- 
wards occupied as a place of worship. Mr. Richard 
Clark succeeded Mr. Davies in the mission, and resi- 
ded in New Milford until the close of the war. It 
would seem that there was perfect harmony and good 
feeJinof between the two denominations. At the an- 
nual town meetings, for a great number of years, 
Charles Gillct was appointed key keeper to the meet- 
cord of his appointment as a missionary, as taken from the Re- 
cords of the Society . — " Agreed, the Ihth of St-pt., 17()1, that Mr. 
Davics be appointed missionary to the churches of New Milford, 
Roxbunj, Sharon, Neio Preslo/i, and Nciv Fairjielil, in Litchfield 
Co., Conn." Mr. Davies embarked immediately after this, for 
this country, and entered on h's ministry to the above named 
cliurches. On tiie first day of April, 170-2, he was married to Miss 
JMarij Harvey^ daughter of Mr. Joel Ilarvey, of Sharon, by whom 
he had two children, one of whom, Wiliiam Davies Esq., is siiil 
living, at Poughkeepsie, N. Y. The other, was the wife of Jon- 
athan Burrall, Esq., laieof CanaMn,Conn. Mr. Davies died sud- 
denly at ^ev! Miltbrd, on the l-2th day of May, ITbt), in the .'iOth 
year of his age. The following is a copy of his epitaph : — 

In memory of the Rev. Thomas Davies, 

A faitiiful servant of Jesus Christ, 

An active, worthy Missionary, 

From the venerable society in England. 

who departed this lifc„ May 12, 1766, 

in the ^>0;h year of his age. 

He met death wiih the greatest Chrisdan fortitude, 

being supported by the ra.ioiial hope 

of a blessed unmorialiiy. 
The sweet remembrance of the just 
Does flourish, now he sleeps in dust. 
Vita bene acta, jucujulissima est recordatio. 



40 HISTORY OF THE 

ing house, and Jolin Pcnnoyer key keeper to the 
church, and this practice was continued as long as the 
church was used for public worship. 

After the town had been settled between twenty and 
thirty years, the population had increased to such an 
extent, that it became necessary to provide a more 
commodious place of public worship than the meet- 
ing house then in use afforded. As early as the year 
1763, the subject was agitated in the town. It was 
the practice through the colony, at that time, to raise 
money for all public purposes, and especially for build- 
ing meeting houses, by taxation. But it was found 
to be impossible to procure a vote of the town to lay 
such a tax in this instance, on account of the difficulty 
with the people in the east part of the town, touching 
the establishment of a new society. After several 
efforts to lay a tax had failed, it was determined to 
make the attempt to raise the money by subscription, 
and such was the success of the undertaking, that it 
was thought advisable to proceed with the building in 
the spring of 1767. It was framed, raised and cov- 
ered, during that season, but it was not finished and 
fitted for public use until the next year. The master 
workman of the building was Capt. Stephen Sears, a 
builder of some celebrity, and who was active in bring- 
ing forward the project of building a new house of 
worship. It was a number of years before all the ex- 
penses of the building were paid. When it was com- 
pleted, it was one of the largest and most commodi- 
ous churches in the county, and for a great many 
years the congregation which worshipped in it filled 
it to overflowinor. It stood on the ledcre of rocks 

to 3» 

which is now so conspicuous nearly in front of the 
present Congregational church, and was used for a 
house of worship for nearly sixty years.* In the year 

* Town Meeting, Dec. 30, 1763. Voted, That in orderto con- 
sider of a motion for buildin^r a new meetino' house, and for some 



TOWN OF SHARON. 41 

1824 it was taken down, and the present brick church 
was erected in its place. 

In the latter part of July, 1770, the Rev. George 

other business, not finished, this meeting be adjourned to the third 
Tuesday" in January next. 

Town Meeting, Sept. 16, 17G6. Voted, That we will build a 
meeting house near the present meeting house, the precise spot to 
be afterwards determined, only that it be not thirty rods from the 
present house; said house not to be under the following dimen- 
sions, viz. 60 feet in length, 40 in width, and 25 feet post, the 
whole affair to be under the direction of a committee hereafter to 
be chosen ; said committee not to begin to build, till in their judg- 
ment they have got enough subscribed to finish it. 

Voted, That if any person, or persons, shall subscribe who 
may, within the space of twenty years next coming, be made a 
distinct ecclesiastical society, or be added to any other ecclesias- 
tical society, he or they shall be refunded their proper proportion 
of what they shall so subscribe, by those who shall remain in the 
possession of said meetino: house, which proportion shall be after 
a deduction of a fiftieth part for every year before they are set off, 
tTien the remainder to be paid back as aforesaid. 

Voted, That Doct. Simeon Sviilh, Messrs. Ehenezer Gay, and 
Stephen Sears, he a committee for the purposes aforesaid. 

Town Meeting, Dec. 9, 1767. Voted, That the old meeting 
house is granted to the committee who are appointed to erect and 
finish the new meeting house, to be improved or disposed of to- 
wards finishing the new meeting house, so as not to deprive us of 
meeting in it until the new one is fit to meet in. 

December 19, 1768. It being represented to this meeting that 
stoves are frequently left in this meeting house with fire in them, 
whereby it is much exposed to be burnt ; the town taking this 
matter into consideration, agree and vote, that no stove shall be 
left in this meeting house, with or without fire in it, and suffered 
to remain there after the meeting shall be dismissed at night, or 
through the night, on the penalty of ten shillings for a stove so 
left, to be recovered of the person or persons that shall leave the 
same, according to law. 

Voted, That young people should not sit together, males and 
females, in the same pews or seats in the galleries, and that our 
informing officers shall be allowed to sit where they choose in the 
galleries, for their observation of their behavior who sit there. 

Voted, That we will now proceed to choose a committee to seat 
our meeting house, when the seats shall be made in the body of 
the house. Doct. Simeon Smith, Stephen Sears, Ehenezer Gay, 
Joseph Landers, Jr., John St. John, Charles Gillet, and Samuel 
Elmer, were chosen a committee for the nui-pose aforesaid. 
4* 



42 HISTORY OF THE 

W/iifJicId, a celebrated itinerant minister of the Church 
of Enghuid, passed through the town on a preaching 
tour. He had proceeded up the North River as far as 
Albany and Sclicnectadij, jjreaching in all the towns 
and villages on the route, and returning, preached at 
Great Harrington, Norfolk, Salisbury^ and Sharon. 
There was considerable opposition to his being per- 
mitted to preach in the meeting house, but the influ- 
ence of Parson Smith prevailed, and the doors were 
opened. An arrangement had been made for him to 
preach in the orchard o^ Mr. Jonathan Gillct, direct- 
ly opposite the meeting house, and now owned by 
George Skinner, m case he should be refused admis- 
sion to the usual place of worship. An immense con- 
gregation, from this and the neighboring towns, as- 
sembled on the occasion, and that all the hearers might 
be well accommodated with ^eats, extensive scaffolds 
were erected around the house. His text, was the 
words of our Saviour addressed to Nicodemus, — 
*' Marvel not that I said unto thee, ye must be born 
again.'^ He discoursed upon the doctrine of the new 
birth with the most astonishing power and eloquence. 
The concluding words of the sermon were a quota- 
tion, with a little variation, from the last verse of the 
fourth chapter of Solomon's Songs ; " Awake O north 
wind, and come thou south, blow upon this garden, 
that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my Beloved 
come into this garden, and eat his pleasant fruits." — 

* The meeting house in Salisbury, at that time, was small, and 
to accommodate the immense number of hearers which came to- 
getlier on the occasion, Mr. Whitfield preached in the open air. — 
The meeting was holden in an orchard, now owned by William 
C. Sterling^ Esq., on the side of the hill a little north of the pres- 
ent residence of that gentleman. The late Dr. HaviiUon informed 
Governor Smith, that on his way to this meeting, while descend- 
ing the hill south of Furnace Village, and full half a mile from 
where Mr. Whitfield then stood, lie heard him distinctly, an- 
nounce his text in these words, " Turn ye to the strong holds, ye 
prisoners of hope ^ 



TOWN OF SHARON. 43 

Many from this tov;n went, the next day, to hear him 
preach at tlie red meeting house in Amenia, N. York, 
and some followed him for two or three days in suc- 
cession, to hear the word of life from this devoted 
minister of the cross.* 

* These were among the last labors of Whitfield. While on 
this tour he suffered much from the asthma, the disease which very 
soon after terminated his life. He spent the night previous to his 
preaching here, with Parson Smith, and such was the alarming 
severity of the disorder then upon him, that it was thought very 
dr.ubtful, by those who watched with him, whether lie could sur- 
vive the night. He attributed his restoration to such a comforta- 
ble state of health as that he v/as able to preach the next day, to 
the kind nursing of JMudaiii Smit/i, for which he expressed the 
most deep-felt gratitude. It was, probably, in allusion to his own 
precarious situation, that he opened the public exercises on the 
following day by reading the following version on the third 
psalm, by Dr. Watts. Its appropriate bearing upon his own fee- 
ble condition, will be readily seen, 

1. O Lord, how many are my foes, 

In this weak state of flesh and blood ; 
My peace they daily discompose, 
But my defence and hope is God. 

2. Tired with the burdens of the day, 

To thee I rais'd an evening cry ; 
Thou heard'st when I began to pray, 
And thine almighty help was nigli. 

3. Supported by thine heavenly aid, 

I laid me down, and slept secure; 
Not death should make my heart afraid, 
Though I should wake and rise no more, 

4. But God sustained me all the night ; 

Salvation doth to God belong : 
He raised my head to see the light, 
And makes his praise my morning song. 

Mr. Whitfield died in about two months from this time, at 
Newburyport, Mass. 



44 HISTORY OF THE 

CHAPTER VIII. 

Events of the Revolutionary War. 

We have now arrived at the period of the com- 
mencetnent of the Revohjtionary War. The citizens 
of Sharon, almost without exception, partook largely 
of the feeling which pervaded the whole country, at 
the commencement of the struggle. Parson Smith, 
like the other clergymen of the day, was a most ar- 
dent and decided whig ; and his personal influence 
contributed, not a little, to lead the public mind in 
the right channel. In his public ministrations, too, 
there was mingled much of the stirring patriotism of 
the times. In the prayers which were offered, and in 
the praises which were sung, there were interspersed 
many allusions to the tyrannical edicts of the British 
King, and to the degraded and suffering condition of 
the colonies. Hymns were written, and music was 
composed, which were used for public worship on the 
Sabbath, the effect of which would seem to be, to stir 
up martial^ rather than devotional feelings, and to ex- 
cite in the worshippers, the deepest hatred of their 
oppressors. The following stanza was the commence- 
ment of one of the hymns which was frequently sung 
for Sabbath worship : — 

" Let tyrants shake their iron rod, 

And slavery clank her galling' chains, 
We fear them not, we trust in God, 
New England's God forever reigns." 

The intelligence of the battle of Lexington was 
brought to Sharon on the Sabbath, and Mr. Smith, at 
the close of the morning exercises, announced it from 
the pulpit, and made some remarks tending to arouse 
the spirit of the congregation to firmness and to re- 
sistance. Immediately after the congregation was 



TOWN OF SHARON. 45 

dismissed, the militia and volunteers, to the number 
of one hundred men, paraded on the west side of tlie 
street, south of the meeting house, and prepared to 
march immediately to the scene of action. David 
Downs, Esq., was Captain, James Brewster Lieuten- 
ant, and David Gould, Ensign. After further delib- 
eration, however, it was determined to send Lieuten- 
ant Brewster to Litchfield, to enquire more fully into 
the accuracy of the intelligence, and whether the ser- 
vices of the militia would be required immediately. — 
Lieut. Brewster* performed this mission, and learning 
that the British had returned to Boston, and that no 
pressing necessity existed for further military aid, it 
was determined not to march, until further hostile 
movements on the part of the enemy should render it 
necessary. 

The General Assembly was forthwith convened, 
and a large military force raised. One' company was 
raised in Sharon and its vicinity. Samuel Elmore 
received a Major's commission, and also had the com- 
mand of this company. Amos Chappell was the lieu- 
tenant. 

The only survivors of this company are Thomas 
Heath and Adonijah Maxam. Deacon Isaac Cham- 
berlain, Capt. Sylvanus Gihbs, and Mr. Ebe Evcritt, 
lately deceased, were also members of this company, 
as were William Gray, Samtiel Lewis, Jr., and David 
Goff. This company was attached to a regiment 
which marched to the northw^ard in 1775, for the con- 
quest of Canada, under General Montgomery. Before 
St. Johns was taken, it was determined, by Colonels 
Allen and Brown, to make an attempt upon the city 

* This young; gentleman was at this time a clerk in Colonel 
Gay's store. He was orignally from Windham, and came to 
Sharon in A. D. 1770, with his mother, who was the second wife 
of Captain Caleb Jew itt. He died, much lamented, of a consump- 
tion, on the 2'3d day of February, 1777. 



46 HISTORY OF THE 

of Montreal with a few volunteers, if they could be 
obtained. The troops were paraded, and Allen march- 
ed in front of the Connecticut line, and invited volun- 
teers to join him. Of the soldiers who belonged to 
Sharon, Adonijah 3Iaxam, David Guff, William Gray 
and Samuel Lewis, stepped forward, and offered to 
share in the perils of the expedition. It was arranged 
between Allen and Brown, that the latter should land 
on the island, below the city, while Allen, with about 
eighty men, should land above the city, and there wait 
until they should hear the firing from Brown's party, 
when they were to rush on to the attack. Allen 
crossed the river St. Lawrence with his detachment 
on the evening of the 24th of September, on a raft, 
and waited in the expectation of hearing the firing 
from Brown's party through the whole night, but he 
waited in vain. For some reason the expedition on 
Brown's part had failed, and the morning light found 
Allen altogether in the power of the enemy. This 
rash adventurer, however, determined to defend him- 
self to the last extremity against the seven or eight 
hundred men that were brought aorainst him, and he 
fought until twenty-five of his men were killed, and 
seven wounded, when he and his brave associates, in- 
cluding Maxam, Goff, Gray and Lewis, from Sharon, 
and one Roger Moore, of Salisbury, were compelled 
to surrender. They were loaded with irons, and sent 
to England, for the avowed object of receiving the 
sentence and punishment of traitors. The threat of 
retaliatory measures, however, on the part of the 
Americans, prevented such summary proceedings 
against them, and after being kept in close confine- 
ment, in England and Ireland, during the winter, the 
prisoners just named were brought back to New York 
in the spring of 1776. They were confined, during 
the summer, in an old church, with a large number of 
others, who had been taken during the campaign, at 
Fort Washington, and other places. From this place 



TOWN OF SHARON. 47 

they contrived to make their escape, by digging be- 
neath the under-pinning of the building. They had 
been habited in sailor's clothes during their captivity, 
and on this account they were less liable to be detect- 
ed. They divided into two parties, Maxam and Moore 
forming the one, and Gray, Goff" and Lewis, the other. 
The three latter very soon found means to land on 
Long Island, and from thence passed over the Sound 
to the Continent, and returned to their friends in Sha- 
ron. Maxam and Moore had more difficulty. They 
were two or three days in the city before they found it 
possible to leave it, and after landing on Long Island 
they suffered much from hunirer. After travelling 
several days, they found means to embark on the 
Sound, and to reach Saybrook. Their return to Sha- 
ron astonished their friends, who having learned from 
Gray and his comrades the circumstances of their es- 
cape from confinement, and having heard nothing fur- 
ther from them, had concluded that they had been re- 
taken by the British. The only survivor of this band 
of sufferers, is Mr. Adonijah Maxam, who now at the 
age of eighty-eight years^ enjoys a good degree of bo- 
dily and mental activity. 

In the campaign of 1775, Parson Smith went with 
the army to the northward, as Chaplain to Col. Hin- 
man's regiment, and spent several months in the ser- 
vice. 

There was one soldier from Sharon, who joined the 
expedition led by General Arnold through the wilder- 
ness of Kennebec, to Canada, whose name was AleX' 
nnder Spencer. He died, however, on the march, 
from sickness. 

The exigencies of the times calling for a large army 
at the commencement of 1776, a large number of men, 
more than one hundred, enlisted from the town of 
Sharon. One company marched for Canada. Jt was 
commanded by Captain David Downs, already men- 
tioned. The first lieutenant was Adonijah Griswold, 



48 HISTORY OF THE 

and the second lieutenant was David Doty. The on- 
ly survivors of this company, which was a large one, 
are Joel Chaffee and Adonijah Pang-man, of Cornwall. 
Charles Gillct, another member of the company, was 
killed near The Cedars, so called, by a party of In- 
dians in ambush, as he was riding along the road, 
having gone out on some business connected with his 
duty as commissary. The other soldiers raised in 
Sharon for the campaign of 1776, were distributed 
among three other companies, and all marched for 
New York, against which an attack by the British was 
now apprehended. Of one company, Dr. Simeon 
Smith was captain ; of another, Elijah Poster was cap- 
tain ; and of the third, Nathaniel Hamlin was lieu- 
tenant. These companies were in the campaign of 
177G, under General Washington on Long Island and 
in the vicinity of New York, and shared in the fa- 
tigues and perils of that disastrous period. David 
JVood, Nathaniel Buel, Josiah Coleman, Jabez Jen- 
nings, Asahel Somers, John Randall, Jr., and Thom- 
as Ackley were taken prisoners at Fort Washington, 
of whom Wood ^nA Ackley died during their captiv- 
ity, and Duel and Coleman on tlieir return. The 
British having obtained possession of New York, Gen- 
eral Washington determined to make an effort to dis- 
lodore them during the winter which followed the un- 
fortunate campaign of 1776. For this purpose a large 
military force was raised in the fall of that ^ear for 
two months service, and one company was enlrsted in 
Sharon. IVilliam Boland was captain, Hezekiah 
Frishie, lieutenant, and Azariah Griswold, ensign. — 
As the period of enlistment was so short, there was 
no difficulty in filling the company. The only survi- 
vors of this company are Messrs. Adonijah 3Iaxam 
and Thomas Heath. New York was not attacked, 
and the company was discharged at Kingsbridge, at 
the expiration of their term of service. 

The forces which had hitherto been called into the 



TOWN OF SHARON. 49 

service, were raised on the authority of the State. — 
To provide for the campaign of 1777, Congress un- 
dertook to raise an army, which was called the Conti- 
nental army ; and of this army, two regiments, Swift's 
and Bradley'' s^ were raised in the western part of Con- 
necticut. Of one company, David Strong was ap- 
pointed lieutenant, and he enlisted a number of re- 
cruits, one of whom, David Goodrich, was killed at 
the battle of Brundywine, in the subsequent campaign. 
Of another company, Reuben Calkin was lieutenant, 
and a number of men enlisted under him. There are 
none now remaining of either company. 

A large depot of provisions and military stores had 
been established at Danbiiry, and in the month of 
April, an expedition was sent out from New York to 
destroy them. It was commanded by Major General 
Try on, of the British army, and consisted of two thou- 
sand men. They landed at a place called Compo, in 
the south-west part of the town of Fairfield, and pro- 
ceeding through the towns of Weston and Redding, 
reached Danbury, and effected their object, which was 
the destruction of the stores. The most active meas- 
ures were taken to spread the alarm through the adja- 
cent country, and to collect the militia to repel the 
invaders. On the evening of the 26th of April, a mes- 
seno^er arrived in this town bringing the intelligence, 
and requiring the immediate marching of such forces 
as could be collected, to meet the enemy. The bell 
commenced tolling, and it was kept tolling through 
the night, and it was a night of great terror and so- 
lemnity. Colonel Ebenezer Gay, who then com- 
manded the militia in this vicinity, gathered together 
as many troops as could be collected on so short no- 
tice, and marched for the scene of action ; and on the 
morning of the 28th reached Danbury, and finding 
that the British hid retreated, pursued them. The 
route which the British had taken on their retreat, 
5 



50 HISTORY OF THE 

brought them on the west side of the Saugatuch Rivera 
which empties into the Sound a mile or two west of 
Compo, where their fleet lay. They were intercept- 
ed in their attempt to reach the bridge over this 
stream, by General Arnold, who was then in command 
of a few regular troops, and were guided by some to- 
ries to a fording place, a little higher up, — and it was 
while they were marching up on the west side of the 
stream to reach this fording place, that they were first 
observed by the troops from Sharon, who were endeav- 
oring to reach the bridge, and to join the corps under 
Arnold. As the British marched by them on the low 
grounds which border on the river, Adonijah Maxam, 
who had not forgotten the injuries which were heaped 
upon him while a prisoner in England, begged permis- 
sion of the commanding officer to steal down the hill 
from the left flank and shoot a few of them. He was 
strictly forbidden, however, to execute this perilous 
undertaking. The British marched by unmolested^ 
and our troops took undisputed possession of the 
bridge. The enemy came down on the east side of 
the river, and having taken ground a little to the east 
of the bridge, fired upon our men who were stationed 
there. Arnold, perceiving the danger to which bis 
men were exposed, brought his artillery to bear upon 
the new position of the enemy, and firing upon them 
over the heads of such of his men as were upon the 
bridge, soon drove them beyond the reach of his can- 
non. They took new ground a little to the south-east 
of their first position, and it was determined to attack 
them there with small arms. A few regular troops un- 
der Arnold, commenced the action with great bravery, 
and our men at the bridge were ordered to join them. 
They marched up the hill with a good degree of reso- 
lution, to sustain the regular troops. As they came 
within the reach of the enemy's musketry, however, 
some one, and it was never known who, cried out re- 
treat. As this word was uttered, Lieutenant Smnuel 



TOWN OF SHARON. 61 

Elmer, Jr.* perceiving the effect it wfis producing, 
and the trepidation which was taking hold of his com- 
rades, stepped up on a stone wall, and cried out, "jfor 
God's sake, men, don't retreat, donH run, mareli up 
the hill ami driiic them off.'' He had barel}' uttered 
these words, when he was shot through the body. — 
The only words he spoke afterwards, were addressed 
to his uncle, Mr. Georo-e Pardee, who was near him: 
" Uncle George,^' said he, " / am a dead vian.'''' A 
general retreat of our men followed ; and the British, 
being left unmolested, marched to their shipping, and 
sailed for New York. 

A large depot of provisions had been established in 
this town early in the war. The store-house stood a 
little west of Nathcmiel Berrifs, on the old road that 
formerly ran through his land before the present turn- 
pike road was established, and a guard was constantly 
kept at the depot during the war. The fate of the 
stores at Danbury, caused much apprehension for the 
safety of those here. There w^ere frequent alarms, 
and the citizens frequently collected in arms to de- 
fend the public property at the store-house. On one 
Sabbath day, during the sermon, Jonathan Gillette, 
who lived directly opposite the meeting house, came 
out of his house, during the public service, and pro- 
claimed with a loud voice that the British were com- 
ing. A dense smoke was seen rising beyond Tower 
Hill, a mountain in the State of New York, a few 
miles south-west of Sharon, and the belief was general 
that the enemy was at hand. Parson Smith was fore- 
most in exhorting the people to firmness and resist- 

* This brave young officer, was a son of Colonel Samuel El- 
mer, and a lieutenant in the JNew York hne of the continental ar- 
my. He had returned home on a short furlough the very day the 
intelligence of the invasion of Danbury was received in Sharon, 
and was one of the first to volunteer to drive off" the enemy. He 
was buried on the spot where he was killed, by two of his com- 
rades, soon after the battle. His body was afterwards removed to 
the burying yard at Green's Farms, where it reposes to this day. 



52 ' HISTORY OF THE 

ance, and he entreated them to stand firm, not only as 
soldiers of the cross, but as soldiers of their country 
and of liberty. The alarm, however, proved to be 
groundless. 

The approach of a large British army from Cana- 
da, under General Burgoyne, and the expedition up 
the North River under General Vaughan, filled the 
whole country with terror and despondency, and fre- 
quent alarms were spread, requiring the constant and 
active duty of the militia. The tories, too, in Dutch- 
ess county. New York, where they were numerous, 
took courage from the prospect of success which the 
progress of the British arms afforded, and embodied 
themselves into a formidable force. Information was 
brougrht to this town during; the summer, that four 
hundred of them had assembled at Carpenter's, as it 
was then called, now Washington Hollow, and that 
they were threatening destruction to all the whigs in 
the neighborhood. An expedition was immediately 
Bet on foot to break up the gang. Volunteers, to the 
number of fifty or sixty, immediately assembled. — 
They marched immediately for the Hollow, and were 
joined by others in their progress, so that when they 
arrived at Blooni's Mills, which is about four miles 
north of the Hollow, their numbers amounted to two 
hundred men. There they encamped for the night, 
and marched the next morning to attack the tories. — 
They found them paraded in the meadow, just north 
of the public house, and marching up with spirit, fired 
upon them. The tories fled immediately, and as ma-« 
ny as could, made their escape. About thirty or forty 
of them, however, were made prisoners, and brought 
to this town and locked up in the old church, at the 
head of the street. They were taken to Exeter, in 
New Hampshire, where they were kept in close con- 
finement for two years. This proceeding broke up 
the gang, and no further trouble was had from this 
class of persons during the war. 



TOWN OF SHARON. 53 

A company of light horse, which belonged to Sharon 
and its vicinity, were kept on duty through the whole 
summer of 1777, on the North river, watching the 
motions of the enemy in that quarter. It was com- 
manded by captain Dutchcr of Salisbury, and David 
Boland of Sharon was the cornet of the company. 
The smoke of burning Kingston was distinctly seen 
from our mountain v.hen it was destroyed by the 
Hessian troops. The only person from this town now 
living, who belonged to captain Butcher's company, 
is Adonijah Maxam. 

A large number of men marched from this town 
under the comuiand of colonel Gay to the northward, 
to oppose the progress of Burgoyne's army, and shared 
in all the conflicts which preceded its surrender.* 
John HoUistcr, one of the soldiers from this town, 
was killed at the battle of Stillwater, on the 7th of 
October. 

The intelligence of the surrender of Burgoyne's 
army was received here under circumstances which 
produced a deep impression. Nothing had been 
heard respecting the state of affairs at Saratoga, ex- 
cepting that two severe battles had been fought, with- 
out any very decisive result. This state of uncertain- 
ty produced extreme anxiety regarding the issue of the 
campaign, and many trembled at the prospect of defeat 
and disgrace to the American arms. The firmness 
and confidence of parson Smith, however, never for- 
sook him, and he did every thing in his power to 
rouse the drooping spirits of his people. On Sabbath 
the day of October, he preached a sermon from 

Isaiah xxi. 11, " Watchman, what of the night, the 

* The following is the record of an a:ljourned church meeting; 
holden on the 23d of September, 1777. " Met according to ad- 
journment, but by reason of a great number being call'd off into 
ye service of their country and but a few members rnet, adjourned 
to the 4th Tuesday of November next ensuing." 
5* 



54 HISTORY OF THE 

watchman saith the morning comcthJ' The discourse 
was entirely adapted to the condition of public affairs. 
He dwelt much upon the indications, which the deal- 
ings of Providence afforded, that a bright and glorious 
morning was about to dawn upon a long night of de- 
feat and disaster. He told the congregation that he 
believed they would soon hear of a signal victory 
crowning the arms of America, and exhorted them ta 
trust with an unshaken and fearless confidence in that 
God who he doubted not, would soon appear for the 
deliverance of his people, and crown with success the 
efforts of the friends of liberty in this country. Before 
the conorreoration was dismissed a messenorer arrived, 
bringing the intelligence of the surrender of Bur-. 
goyne's army. Parson Smith read the letter from the- 
pulpit, and a flood of joy burst upon the assembly. 

During the next year a large part of Burgoyne's-. 
army was marched through this town on their way to 
the south. They were met here by a regiment of 
continental troops under the command of Lieut. 
Colonel Jameson, who was afterwards somewhat con- 
spicuous in the affairs connected with the capture of 
Major Andre, and who here took charge of the pris- 
oners.* One of Burgoyne's soldiers, by the name of 
Robert Gibbs, a Scotchman, from Dundee, who was 
wounded and taken in the battle immediately prece- 
ding Burgoyne's surrender, was here left by his com^ 
rades. He died recently, at the age of 94. 

After the campaign of 1777, the seat of the war- 
was removed to so great a distance that no further call 

♦ A large proportion of the prisoners of this detachment were 
Hessians, They were subjected to the most severe discipline, 
and were entirely inoffensive. Each regiment was furnished 
with a chaplain and divine service was frequently performed. 
They encamped here over night, and when they started in the 
morning, the whole body sang devotional music on the march. 
Governor Smith informed the author that he, then a lad, followed 
theffi two or three miles to hear their singing. 



TOWN OF SHARON. i>5 

was made for the militia of the town, except for the 
purpose of keeping guard on the sea coast. The bur- 
dens and privations of a pecuniary kind, however, 
which are incident to a state of war, were borne by 
the people of this town without a murmur, and the 
unanimous feeling in favor of the cause which marked 
the commencement of the war, continued with unaba- 
ted ardor to the close of it. 



CHAPTER IX. 

^mall-Pox— Shay's Rebellion — Methodist Society formed — Death of Parson 
Smith — Settlement of Mr. Perry. 

Soon after the close of the war, the town was visited 
^ith the small-pox. In the month of November, 
1784, the wife oi Joseph 3Iarchant, who lived where 
Esq. Gay now lives, visited some friends in the state 
of Massachusetts. Soon after her return she was 
taken sick, and died after a short illness. The phy- 
sicians differed as to the nature of the disorder. Dr. 
Smith believing it to be the small-pox, and Dr. Ham- 
ilton thinking otherwise. Her funeral was attended 
on the Sabbath, and a large number of the inhabitants 
were present. It was soon rumored that Dr. Smith 
had intimated an opinion that she had died of the 
small-pox, and the most intense anxiety was felt on 
the subject. All doubt, however, was soon dissipated 
by the iDreaking out of the disorder in various parts df 
the town. A time of great and overwhelming distress 
followed, and nearly thirty persons died within a 
month or two. Such a scene of distress and mortali- 
ty had never before been experienced in the town, and 



56 HISTORY OP THE 

the terrors which the pestilence excited are remem- 
bered by many at this day with the most intense in- 
terest.* 

The spirit of dissatisfaction with the existing state 
of things which prevailed through a portion of New 
England, soon after the close of the revolutionary war, 
and which finally resulted in open resistance to the 
constituted authorities, in the western part of Massa- 
chusetts, affected, in some degree, the public mind in 
Sharon. Many things conspired to produce discon- 
tent and uneasiness, and the records of the town give 
a clue to some of the causes which agitated the com- 
munity. t 

In the spring of 1787, during the existence of the 
insurrection under Shays, in Massachusetts, Doctor 
John Hulhcrt, who resided in the town of Alford, 
Berkshire county, Mass. and who was an active parti- 
zan of Shays, came to Sharon for the purpose of 
awakening a similar spirit in this vicinity, and of pro- 
ducing an efficient co-operation. Having received his 

* The following ai-e the names of some of the victims of that 
terrible scourge. In the up-town neig;hborhood. Araos Marchant, 
Perez Gay, Lydia Waldo, Mr. David Elmer, Eunice Jennings, 
and her sister. On the mountain, Mrs. Nathaniel Hamlin, Betsey 
Downs and Erastus Downs. In the down-town neighborhood, 
Samuel Doty and toife and Johi Bates and n-ife, and besides 
these there was a large number of children who died of the 
disorder. 

t At a town meeting legally warned and held in Sharon, on the 
9th day of October, 178G, for the purpose of instructing the repre- 
sentatives, it was voted, 1. that it is the mind of the town that a 
paper currency be struck. 2. That the table of fees be reduced to 
the old standard. 3. That there be no deputy sheriffs in the state. 

At a town meeting legally warned and held in Sharon on the 
22dday of February, 1787, for the purpose of presenting a petition 
to the General Assembly for the emission of a paper currency, 
voted, I. whether they would do any thing about it % voted in the 
affirmative, 2. Voted that the draught laid before the town rela- 
ting to the premises, is accepted and approved, as the mind of the 
town, and that the same be put in the public prints. 



TOWN OF SHARON. ^* 



medical education here, and possessnig qualities cal- 
culated to give effect to his representations, Hulbert 
soon succeeded in organizing a considerable number 
of men under the amdance of one William MitclieU, 
who was constituted their captain, and who, m as pri- 
vate a manner as possible, and chiefly in the night 
season, trained and drilled them for service/ As this 
occurred in the month of May, and intelligence o 
these movements reached Hartford where the General 
Assembly were then in session, that body made no 
delay in despatching a member of the council, and 
two members of the house of representatives, with 
instructions to put down the insurrectionary spirit by 
ordinary process of law, if practicable, otherwise by 
military force. The committee on their way hither 
called on the State's attorney, at Litchfield, took war- 
rants grounded on his official information, and with 
the sheriff of the county made their appearance here 
before any one was apprized of their mission, much 
less of their approach. Hulbert, Mitchell and two 
others were arrested and taken to Litchfield, tor ex- 
amination. Hulbert was prosecuted under the act 
against " vagrants, vagabonds and common beggars, 
but on his solemn promise to leave the state forthwith, 
he was suffered to depart. The others, being charged 
with treasonable practices, were bound over to the 
next term of the superior court. Thus, by the season- 
able measure of the government, the spirit ot insubor- 
dination was effectually quelled, and as the suppression 

* Dr. mihert was the father of the late Hon John ^-^^f'"^ 
a counsellorof mucheminence,and a distinguished "l^^^' °^^^°^^ 
^ressfi-om the Berkshire district, Mass. and who, afiei a splendid 
I ^f ss'onal and political career, died suddenly, a ^w ye-s^.nce 
l^vAnhiirn N Y where he then resided. Capt. Mitchell was a 
Sofh er by trade He came to Sharon from Farming t on r^o^ 
t^'L;,fn the spring of 1783 He owned -d improved ^he 
clothier's works lately owned by Capt. James Gay, one mile 
southeast of the meeting house in the first society. 



58 HISTORY OF THE 

of the insurrection in Massachusetts followed not long 
after, the prosecutions against Mitchell and others 
were discontinued.* 

There was a decided majority of the voters in this 
town who were opposed to the adoption of the Federal 
Constitution. Jodali Cohnian and Jonathan Gillet, 
were the delegates from this town to the convention 
which was called to pass upon the question of its rati- 
fication in January, 1788. Those gentlemen voted 
against its adoption and when it was acted upon in a 
subsequent town meeting, the majority was large 

against it. 

The first preaching by clergymen of the Methodist 
connexion was in 1788. A Mr. Cook, an English- 
man, preached once or twice at Samuel Hitchcock's, 
in the south part of the town, and attracted considera- 
ble attention by his bold and stirring appeals to the 
consciences of his hearers. He also preached once or 
twice in the ball-room in Gnlloiv's tavern, which was 
kept where Dr. John W. Smith now lives. It is said that 
some of the authority of the town hinted to the tavern 
keeper that another license would not be granted to 
him if he opened his doors again to the preacher. 
Very soon after this, however, Freeborn Garretson, 

* The following; account of tliese proceedings is copied from £ 
Litchfieldpaper of May21, 178:^. -o .r j 

" Last Thursday evening arrived in this town from hlarttord| 
Colonel Samuel 'Caiifield and Uriah Tracy, Esq with orden, 
from the General Assembly, to repair to the town of Sharon, anc| 
put a stop to the insurrection that appeared to be raising in tha! 
town. The same evening they set off, accompanied by the shent 
and one of his deputies, and arrived at Sharon about day-break 
and soon arrested five persons who were supposed to be the prin 
cipal actors and abettors in the insurrection. They were con 
ducted to and safely lodged in our gaol, on Saturday last, in orde 
for examination. It is hoped the early and spirited exertion o 
our Assembly will prevent any further disturbance m that town 
Much praise is due to the gentlemen employed on that occasion 
for their prudence, humanity and judicious proceedings. ' 



I TOWN OF SHARON. 59 

►vho was then laboring in Duchess county, N. Y. and 
tvho was very early distinguished by his labors and his 
zeal in the cause of Methodism, was invited by Mr. 
St/lvanus Hanchct, to preach at his house.* The 
Methodist society was organized soon afterwards, and 
some of its first members are yet in the land of the 
living. Those venerable fathers in the ministy, Free- 
horn Garrctson, Peter Moriarty^ and others of equal 
notoriety, supplied the society with preaching for 
many years, and up to this time the Methodist church 
has never been destitute of regular stated preaching. 
A camp-meeting was holden in the month of Septem- 
ber, 1805, in a grove near George W. Peck's, and 
another in the following year near Alpheus JeioetVs. 
The first meeting house was erected in 1808, in 
Calkinstown, so called, and there the society met for 
worship for nearly thirty years. In 1836, this house 
ivas given up as a place of worship, and a neat and 
beautiful brick edifice was erected at the north end of 
the town street, which is now the meeting house of 
uhe society. 

The Rev. Mr. Smith continued in ihe ministry in 
Sharon until the 27th day of November, 1806, when 
he venerable and beloved pastor went down to the 
jrave. About two years before his decease, on ac- 
count of the infirmities of age which were then upon 
lim, he requested the assistance of a colleague, and 
he society with great unanimity invited the Rev. 
David L. Perry, to become their minister in con- 
lexion with Mr. Smith. Mr. Perry was ordained on 
he 6th day of June, 1804, and from that time Mr. 

* An interestin<;^ discussion took place between Pavon Smith 
,nd Mr. Gdi-retsnn at one of these meetings at Mr. Hancbet's, 
t'hicli excited much attention attlie time. Jt related to the dispu- 
id points which then and now divide the two Christian sects of 
idiich they were the respective ministers. It is not supposed, 
owever, that any good results followed the controversy. 



^^ HISTORY OF THE 



Smith preached but seldom. He however delivered a 
sermon on the fiftieth anniversary of his ordination, 
which made the occasion one of most tender and 
affecting interest. The character of this excellent 
man is well and very truly summed up in the epitaph 
inscribed upon his monument, which is as follows : 

The. Rev. Cotton Mather Smith 

Born ■" Suffield, Oct. 16, 1731, ordained m'sharon, 

August 28, 755, died Nov. 27, 1806, in the 76th year of 

his age and 52d of his ministry. 

Cn^^T"^- 'V'^ •^'''"'' ^" ^'^^^ ^"^ conversation as becometh the 
^^Afnn^r'V"' !"'"''■"'']' ^" manner forcible and persuasive j 

Atond husband; a tender father ; an unvarying iViend • 

Havmg for more than>7^^/ years, earnestly conte.fded for the 

idith once delivered to the saints, he is -one to render his 

tmal account to the great captain of his salvation. 

People of his charge, he still speaks to you in a voice 

awtul as death, solemn as the grave, 

Prepare to meet your God. 

The Rev. David L. Perry was born at Harwinton, 
Conn on the 21st day of June, 1777. He was the 
son of the Rev. David Perry, who was then the minis^ 
ter of Harwinton, but who was afterwards and for 
many years s^led at Richmond, Mass. He was a 
graduate of Williams College, of the class of 1798 
and for three years commencing in October 1800^ 
was a tutor m that institution. He studied divinity 
with the Rev. Dr. Backus, of Somers, Conn, and 
upon the unanimous invitationof the church and soci- 
ety m this town, he settled here in the ministry as 
before stated. Soon after his settlement, he married 
the only daughter of the Rev. Dr. Strono-, minister of 
the first church in Hartford, by whom he had ten 
children. He continued in the ministry here until 
his death on the 25th day of October, 1835, having 
been suddenly cut off by a stroke of apoplexy He 
was a man of very pure character, and of respectable 
talents, and he died, much lamented by the people of 



TOWN OF SHARON. 61 

his charge, and by his brethren in the ministry. His 
wife survived him about five years. 



CHAPTER X, 

Biographical notices— Family sketches, genealogies, &c. 

Abel, David was from Lebanon, and came to 
Sharon in 17G0. He purchased of John Roberts the 
lot of land on which his son, the late Mr. Sluman Abel 
lived. He had five sons, Sluman, David, William, 
John and Andrew. William was a soldier in the rev- 
olutionary army and a pensioner. Mr. Abel died 
June 23, 1781, at the age of 60. The name of the 
neighborhood called Ahd street, was derived from 
him. 

Acklcy, Thomas from Chatham, came to Sharon in 
1768. He purchased of Phineas Post, of Lebanon, 
the thirty-second lot in the first hundred acre divis- 
ion. He lived on the Ellsworth turnpike, where 
Uriah Tucker now lives. He had three sons Thomas^ 
David and Abraham. Thomas entered the revolu- 
tionary army in 1776, and was taken prisoner at the 
capture of Fort Washington. He died during his 
captivity. Mr. Ackley the father, died Nov. 6th, 
1792, at the age of 67. 

Atherton, James was an early settler from Coven- 
try. He lived near the place now owned by Rev. 
Aaron Hunt, south of Hitchcock's Corner. He had 
sons John, David, James, Simon and Mosefi. The 
family removed from the town \fi the course of a few 
years, to Newtown, N. J. 
6 



02 THE HISTORV OF 

Avp.rij, William was from Lyme, in 1777. He was 
a hatter by trade, and lived in Ellsworth, on the Per- 
kins place, so called. He married a sister of Capt. 
Isaiah Everett. He removed to Duanesburgh, N. Y. 
early in the present century, where he died. 

Bacon, Jacob, was from Canaan, in 1741, and lived 
where George White now lives. He was a large 
land-holder. He removed to Salisbury, in 1748. 

Badcock, Ztbulon was from Coventry, and came to 
Sharon, in 1745. He settled near where Lovel W. 
Chapman now lives, but in 1747 he bought the seven- 
teenth home-lot, known as the Patchcn place, and 
lived there nearly forty years. He afterwards return- 
ed to Coventry. 

Bailey, Joseph was from Lebanon, and came to 
Sharon, in 1774. He purchased of Samuel Chapman, 
the farm on which his son, the late Deacon Joseph 
Bailey resided, in Ellsworth. He died Sept. 15, 
1802, at the age of 69. He had three sons, Joseph^ 
Pelatiah and Benjamin, who resided in the town and 
died here. 

Barnes, Thomas was an early settler in the north- 
west part of the town, and lived near the present resi- 
dence of Alanson Wheeler, Esq. He came into the 
town in 1750. He had three sons, Thomas, Dan and 
Jonah. He died in 1760. Thomas, the oldest son, 
lived on the same place until his death, Mafcn 7, 
1807, at the ao-e of 74. Dan lived in the town of 
Amenia, N. Y. Jonah, the youngest son, was a phy- 
sician, and a man of great wit and shrewdness. He 
lived at what is now called the Evertson place, west 
of Governor Smith's. 

Barrows, David came from Mansfield before the 
revolutionary war. He lived where Adonijah Maxam 
now lives. He had no children. He died on the 6th 
day of January, 1815, at the age of 83. 



I TOWN OF SHARON. 63 

' Barrows, Amos was a brother of the preceding, and 
lived many years where Stephen White lately lived, in 
the Great Hollow. He kept a tavern, and was acci- 
dentally killed, by falling from the hay-loft in his barn, 
on the 5th day of December, 1779, at the age of 50 
years. 

JBarstoWt Seth was from Rochester, Mass. in 1771. 
He lived at the lower end of Abel street, where his 
grandson, Seth B. St. John now lives. He had five 
sons, Allen, Samuel, Seth, Gamaliel and Charles, 
Samuel was a physician, who formerly lived in Great 
Barrington, Mass. and who died there in 1813. Ga- 
maliel is also a physician, now residing in Broome 
county, N. Y. He has been a member of Congress, 
and a member of the Senate and Treasurer of the 
State of New York. Mr. Barstow, the father, died in 
1822. 

Bates, John was one of the first settlers of the town. 
He lived a little below Joel Beecher's present resi- 
dence. His daughter, Sarah, who was born on the 
25th day of February, 1739, was the first white child 
born in Sharon, except Jehiel Jackson. She was 
afterwards the wife of John Randall. Mr. Bates and 
his wife both died of the small-pox, when it prevailed 
in the town in December, 1784. 

Beard, Nathan was from Milton, in Litchfield. 
He came to Sharon, in 1779 He purchased of the 
administrators of Charles Gillet, the farm on which 
the late John Jackson lived, and there resided. He 
for several years carried on the forge in Hutchinson 
Hollow. He died in 1792. He had a large family, 
of whom James Beard, now residing in town was the 
youngest son. 

Beardslee, John was from Newtown, in 1760. He 
married a daughter of Cornelius Knickerbacker, and 



64 HISTORY OF THE 

lived many years at the Sprague place., where the late 
Charles Prindle resided. 

Bennett, Ccrpt. Edmund was from the parish of Co- 
lumbia, in Lebanon, and came to Sharon soon after 
the revolutionary war. He was a blacksmith by trade, 
and by his industry and economy accumulated a hand- 
some estate. He lived on the mountain, two miles 
east of the meeting-house. His wife was a daughter 
of Charles Gillet, who was killed in Canada, in the 
revolutionary war. He was for many years town 
treasurer and held many important offices in the town. 
He died on the 1st of December, 1829, at the age of 
seventy-four. One of his sons, Hon. Milo L. Bennett, 
is a judge of the supreme court of Vermont. 

Betts, James was from Norwalk and came to Sharon 
at an early day. He lived near the Sprague place, in 
the Gay district. He died in 1758. He had two 
sons, Ezekiel and Zophar, the latter of whom officia- 
ted for many years as chorister in Mr. Smith's con- 
gregation. Zophar Betts died the 2d day of May, 
1778, at the age of forty-four. 

Blackman^ Dr. Simeon was from Newtown, and 
came to Sharon in 1789, and settled on the mountain, 
where Dr. Sears now lives. He studied medicine with 
Dr. Shepherd, of Newtown, and here acquired emi- 
nence and distinction in his professional career. He 
enjoyed a large share of the public confidence, and 
represented the town in the legislature at five sessions. 
He was an Episcopalian by religious profession, and 
in his last will bequeathed to the society in Sharon, of 
which he was a member, the sum of two hundred dol- 
lars as a fund for the support of preaching. He died 
of dropsy on the 16th of August, 1812, at the age of 
fifty-three. He left no children. 

Boardman, Benjamin came to Sharon in 1742, and 
settled where Benjamin Hollister, Esq. now lives. He 



TOWN OF SHARON. 65 

sold that place to James Warren, in 1748, and built 
on the spot where the late Calvin Noyes lived. He 
had one son, Thaddeus Boardman, who lived on the 
west border of Mudge Pond. In 1786, the elder and 
younger Boardman sold their real estate to Frederick 
Lord, of Hartford, and removed to the west. 

Bogardus, Jacob merchant, came to Sharon from 
Amenia, N. Y. in 1764. He lived in the old brick 
house, known as the Taylor house, a little north of 
Gov. Smith's. He was a Dutchman, and built the 
large Dutch barn, which within a few years stood in 
such close contiguity with the town street, near his 
dwelling-house. He sold his place in 1775, to Eben- 
ezer Dibble, and again returned to the state of New 
York. He built the large brick house, one mile west 
of the village, now owned by Mr. Morehouse. 

Boland, Dvaid was from Woodbury, in 1767. 
He was a Scotchman by birth and purchased of Sam- 
uel Dunham, the tenth home-lot, originally Samuel 
Hutchinson's, being the same on which the old stone 
house now owned by Anson Boland stands. He had 
two sons, William and David, both of whom were 
officers in the revolutionary army. He was possessed 
of a valuable real estate, which, by his last will he gave 
to his grandsons, Reuben and John Boland, during 
their lives, remainder to their eldest male heirs. 

His Epitaph. 

In memoiy of David Boland, who died Aug. 31, 1789, 
aged seventy-nine. 

The stage of life when once pass'd o'er, 
Fixes our state to change no more, 
Our work is great and must be done, 
An heaven to win, an hell to shun, 
Then seize the promise while you may, 
Nor lose one moment by delay. 

Botsfoi'd, Ephraim was from Newtown, and came 
to Sharon, in 1765. He purchased of Daniel Bald- 
6* 



66 HISTORY OF THE 

win, a tract of land in the north part of the town, op- 
posite Homer Pardee's, and lived there until his death 
in 1795. He had two sons, Elnathan and Ephraim, 
the former of whom died in 1782 and the latter in 
1821. 

His Epitaph. 

In memory of Mr. Ephraim Botsford, 
Who departed this life Dec. .5, 1795, aged seventy-four. 
When you, my friends, this tomb draw near, 
Bedew my urn with one kind tear; 
Then look by faith to realms above, 
Where all is harmony and love. 

Epitaph on Wolcott, son of Ephraim Botsford, who died 
Sept. 1, 1785, aged eleven. 
The youth who late with vigor shone, 
Now lies interred beneatli this stone, 
From death's arrest no age is free, 
Prepare, my friends, to follow me. 

Bouton, Daniel was from Stamford, and was the 
first settler on the lot owned by the late Cyrus Swan, 
Esq. He died Nov. 14, 1740, at an early age. His 
widow, Elizabeth, afterwards married Abel Munn, 
who died in 1758. She continued to occupy the 
house of her first husband long after she became a 
widow the second time. She is often spoken of by 
aged people as old mother Munn. 

Brockway, Wahton the first of the Brockway fam- 
ily in Sharon, came from Branford in 1752. He set- 
tled in the south-west part of the town, near the line 
of Kent, and died there in 1813, at the age of ninety. 
His son, the late Asa Brockway, was a soldier of the 
revolution and a pensioner. 

Buelt Eliphalet was from Salisbury, and was brother 
of the late Col. Nathaniel Buel, of that town. He 
came to Sharon in 1767, and settled where Homer 
Pardee now lives. He died of the small-pox, on the 
5th of February, 1777, aged forty-nine. His only son 
Nathaniel, died a prisoner in New York, a short time 



TOWN OF SHARON. 07 

before, and his wife soon after, of the same disease. 
Their common fate is commemorated in the following 

Epiiap'n. 

The only son is gone but twenty days, 
The indulgent ftiiher fullows him to ye grave 
Wliere we must all repair; ulas, how soon 
Our morning sun goes down at noon. 
The son and husband both are gone, 
The mother and the wife, how soon 
Must yield to death, and here to lie 
To tell the living they must die. 

Burr, Walter was from Fairfield, He lived at 
what is called the Burr place, in the valley, and oivned 
a very valuable farm, a great portion of which is in 
the state of New York. He died in 1802. 

Calkin, Lieut. Stephen was from Lebanon, and was 
an original proprietor of the town. He drew the 
thirty-first home-lot and lived where Abraham Weed 
now lives. He had seven sons, Stephen, Joseph, Eli- 
jah, Timothy, Amos, Justus and David, all of whom 
settled in the town, and most of them in the same 
neio-hborhood with their father. The neighborhood 
which is called Calkinstown, perpetuates their name. 
Mr. Calkin died in 1781. He was the grand-father of 
the late James Calkin, and of Justus Calkin, now 
living. 

Camp, Abel from New Milford, came to Sharon in 
1769. He lived on the mountain where the late Capt. 
Bennett resided, and remained in town about twenty 
years. 

Caiifield, Hon. John was a son of Samuel Canfield, 
of New Milford, who was one of the judges of the 
county court, for Litchfield county, and a deacon of 
the church in New Milford. Mr. Canfield was born 
at New Milford in 1740, and graduated at Yale Col- 
lege in 1762. He studied law and established him- 
self in the practice of his profession in this town, in 



68 HISTORY OF THE 

1765, being the first lawyer that lived here. He pur- 
chased of Parson Smith, the lot next south of Judge 
Sterling's, and built the old brick house now owned 
by that gentleman. Mr. Canfield enjoyed an enviable 
reputation and was holden in high estimation by his 
fellow citizens. He represented the town in the 
legislature at ten different sessions. He was a profes- 
sor of religion and enjoyed the reputation of a sincere 
and humble Christian. In 1786 he was elected a 
member of the Continental Cono-ress, and had he lived 
to take his seat in that body, would probably have 
been a distinguished member. He died, however, on 
the 26th day of October, 1786, at the age of forty-six. 
The grief of the community at his death was general 
and deep, and the old men of this day speak of him 
with unbounded confidence and attachment. He left 
but one son, John M. Canfield, Esq. who now resides 
at Sacket's Harbor, N. Y. and a number of daughters. 
The Hon. John C. Spencer, now Secretary of War, 
is his o-randson. 

o 

His Epitaph. 

Sacred to the memory of the Hon. John Canfield, 

A member of Congress for this State, 

who died the 26th day of October, A. D. 1786, 

in the forty-sixth year of his age. 

'T is not for lifeless stone to tell thy worth, 

A partner's heart the deep impression wears, 
Thy orphans oft, around this hallowed earth, 

Shall tell a father's love with speaking tears, 
And numerous friends who swell the tide of grief, 

Thy great and generous deeds shall oft relate, 
Thus through revolving years thy name shall live, 

'Till to immortal life, this slumbering dust shall wake. 

Canfield, Hon. Juchon was a son of Col. Samuel 
Canfield, of New Milford, and a nephew of Hon. John 
Canfield. He graduated at Yale College in 1782. 
He came to Sharon in 1787, and commenced the 
practice of law. He built the house now occupied by 



TOWN OF SHARON. 69 

Nathaniel Berry and lived there. He was a member 
of the house of representatives at seventeen sessions, 
and for several years a member of the council. He 
was also a judge of the court of common pleas. He 
left Sharon in J815, and removed to the state of Ohio, 
where he died in 1889, at the age of more than eighty 
years. 

CanJit'Jd, Col. Samuel was a brother of the prece- 
ding, and came to Sharon in early life. He was an 
assistant commissary of issues, in the war of the revo- 
lution, and toward the close of his life drew a hand- 
some pension. He was for many years a merchant of 
extensive business, and was town clerk from 1792 to 
1815, having succeeded Daniel Griswold, Esq. in that 
office. He was a member of the assembly at several 
sessions. He died while on a visit at Poughkeepsie, 
N. Y. on the first day of October, 1837, at the age of 
eighty-three. 

Carrier^ Deacon Timothy was from Colchester, in 
1747. He bought of Jacob Bacon a part of the 
twelfth home-lot, where George White now lives. He 
was appointed a deacon of the church in 1766, which 
office he held until his death. He had but one son 
who survived him, and he removed from the town 
soon after the decease of his father. He died on the 
22d day of February, 1781, at the age of eighty-two. 
His wife died about the same time, and the stone 
which marks their resting place has upon it the fol- 
lowincr 

Epitaph. 

Hare man and wiff^, secure from strife, 

Lie slumbering side by side, 
Thiu^h death's cold hands dissolved the bands, 

It couH not them divide. 
This tomb shall burst and yield its trust, 

This pair will live again, 
With purer love to soar above, 

Where joys immortal reign. 



70 HISTORY OF THE 

Cartwright^ Nicholas was the common ancestor of 
the Cartwrjght family, which have been numerous in 
the town. He was originally from Barnstable, Massa- 
chusetts, and lived a short time on Philip's Patent, 
now South-East, N. Y. He came to Sharon in 1756, 
and settled near the place where Earl Cartwright now 
lives. He was baptized in September, 1781, when he 
was nearly eighty years of age. He died in May, 
1782. He had three sons, Reuben, Christopher and 
Samuel. Reuben lived where Georae W. Peck now 
lives. He died, leaving a numerous family, in May, 
1790, aged forty. Christopher lived near David Cur- 
tiss' present residence, and before the revolutionary 
war he removed to Shaftsbury, Vermont. In 1775, 
he joined the army under general Montgomery, and 
was in the battle of Quebec, in which Montgomery 
fell. He died of the small-pox, in the American 
camp, on the island of Orleans, before the retreat from 
Canada. Samuel lived where Austin Cartwright now 
lives. He was also in the army with his brother Chris- 
topher, but escaped his untimely end. He lived to a 
good old age, and died January 17th, 1819, aged 
seventy-eight. He left two sons, Nicholas and Ansorij 
who are both now deceased. 

Chaffee, Joshua was from Mansfield, and came to 
Sharon in 1755. He married the only child of Mat- 
thew St. John, Jun. and first settled where Caleb and 
Richard B. Cole now live. In 1760, he removed to 
Ellsworth, where his son Joel Chaffee now lives. He 
died in 1789, aged fifty-six. He left three sons, Joel, 
Mattheio and Joshua B. Matthew died soon after the 
death of his father. Joshua B. died in 1832. He 
was at the time of his death one of the magistrates of 
the town. Joel is still living at an advanced age. 

Chamberlain, Deacon Isaac was born in New Marl-- 
borough, Mass. and came to Sharon with his step-* 



TOWN OF SIIAIION. 71 

father, Mr, John Hollister, in 1756. fie was a car- 
penter and joiner by trade. He married a daughter 
of Jonathan Sprague, and had several children. He 
entered the army early in the revolutionary war, and 
was sergeant of artificers. He was appointed a dea- 
con of the congregational church in 1799, which 
office he held till his death. He was a man of strong 
mind, of great decision of character, and for many 
years was one of the pillars of the town^ 

His Epitaph. 

t)eacon Isaac Chamberlain, a patriot of '76, 

A soldier of the revolution, and for many 

years of liis subsequent life an 

officer of the first cliurch in Sharon. 

Born in New Marlborou,^li, JVJass. Oct. 24, I75(j, 

died at Sharon, July 14, 1833. 

Grounded and settled in the faith. — St. Paul. 

Chap?nan, Obadiah was from Colchester, and came 
to Sharon in 1741. He settled in the south part of 
the town, opposite Anson Bolatld's present residence. 
He Was the owner of a large real estate. He died in 
1761. He left four sons, Obadiah, Pclatiah, Mat- 
thias and Robert. Obadiah died in 1763. Pelatiah 
was the father of the late William Chapman, and he 
died in 1759. His widow afterwards married Dr. 
Ashbel Goodrich. Robert, the youngest son, and the 
survivor of them all, was a soldier in the old French 
war, and after his return from the service settled in 
the south west part of the town, where his son, the 
late Elijah Chapman lived. He died in 1814, at the 
age of eighty. He was the father of Obadiah Chap- 
man who still survives. 

Chapman., Samuel was from Colchester. He came 
with the first settlers. He settled on the forty-sixth 
home-lot, near Calvin Jackson's. He afterwards re- 
moved to the lower end of Abel street wliere his grand- 
son Caleb Chapmam now lives. He had three sons, 



7^ HISTORY OF THE 

Sa7nucl, EzeJciel and NeJiemiah. Caleb Chapman is a 
son of the last named. Ezekiel died a soldier in the 
French war. 

Chappel, Amos was a son of Caleb Chappel, of 
Lebanon, one of the original proprietors. He came 
to Sharon in 17()0, and settled in Ellsworth, where 
Gamaliel Everett lives. 

Church, Jehiel was from Great Barrington, Mass. 
and lived a little north of Adolphus Enerttt''s, He 
died May 1, 1819, at the age of seventy-seven. lie 
had nine children. 

Cluzton, tbamud WRs originally from the old Ply- 
mouth colony. He came to Sharon in early life. 
He lived where Ansel Cartwright now lives. He was 
a faithful soldier in the revolutionary war and died in 
1820. 

Cole, Calrb was fi'ora Norwalk and came to Sharon, 
in 174S. He settled on the place now owned by his 
great orandson, Albert Cole. He had sons, Zebulon, 
Matthew and Davids which last named was the father 
o^ Caleb Cole and Richard B. Cole. He died in 1780^ 

Colnncm, Josiah came from Hebron in 1771. He 
lived where Earl Cartwright lives. He was a son of 
Noah Coleman, of Colchester, one of the original 
proprietors of the township. He was a practical sur- 
veyor and was considerably employed in that business. 
He was a member of the General Assembly in Octo- 
ber, 1783, and in May, 1784, and again in May, 1788. 
He was also a delegate to the convention which rati- 
fied the Constitution of the United States, to the adop- 
tion of which he was very strongly opposed. One of 
his sons, Josiah, was taken prisoner at Fort Washing- 
ton, in 1776, and on his return from captivity died at 
Milford, January 8, 1777, of disease contracted in the 
British prison-ships. He had four other sons, Aaron, 
Elihu, Jesse and Amasa. The eldest, Dr. Aaron 



tOWN OIF SHARON. 73 

tjoleman is still living at Warren, at a very advanced 
age. Mr. Colfeman died February 23, 1813, aged 
seighty. 

Epitaph. 

When rocks dissolve and skies in smoke decay, 
Rise, sleeping dust, to an unclouded day. 

Comstock, Samuel was from Lyme, and came into 
iSharon with the first settlers. He built a loo- house 
directly opposite Caleb and Richard B. Cole's present 
dwelling house, and a cluster of apple-trees which he 
planted the first year, is still standing. He was the 
first collector of taxes in the town, and was a highly 
respectable man. He sold his place in 1748 to Dea- 
con Matthew St. John, of Norwalk, and himself remo- 
ved to New Fairfield. His home-lot was the thirty<^ 
second. 

Conkling, Capt. benjamin was from Norwalk, and 
lived for many years where Bela Lamb now lives^ 
He was often appointed select-man of the town, as 
well as to other offices. He afterwards lived in Ver- 
mont for several years, but towards the close of life 
returned to Hitchcock' s Corner, where he died on the 
1st of October, 1823, at the age of eighty-six. He 
was the father of Dr. Ebenezer H. Conklinor, who 
formerly lived at Hitchcock's Corner. 

Corbet, John was the first settler at the place where 
the late Samuel Petit lived, in the north part of the 
town. He was from Lebanon in 1743. He built a 
saw-mill, at an early day, near Abel Benedict's. He 
afterwards lived on the mountain at the Eldcrkin 
place, so called, near Elijah Marsh's. 

Crippen, Jnbez was from Colchester, and was an 
original proprietor of the township. He drew the 
twenty-first home-lot, and his house stood on the ground 
now occupied by the Grosvenor house, so called, nearly 
opposite Governor Smith's. He was the first select* 
7 



74 HISTORY OF THE 

man ever chosen in tlie town. He had sons, Jabez^ 
John., Samuel, Thomas and Joseph. His son Thomas 
lived where liussel B. Calkin now lives. Ahout the 
year 1752, the father removed with several of his sons, 
into Amenia, N. Y. near where the late Jonathan 
Pennoyer lived; and that neighborhood was formerly 
''-ailed Crippcntovm. Mr. Crippen died at Manches- 
ter, Vermont, about 1785. 

Crocker, Oliver was from Lebanon, before the rev- 
olutionary war. He settled where Philander Abel 
now lives, and died April 12, 1812, at the age of 
♦eighty-one. Kis widow died recently, at the age of 
more than ninety years. He left no son. 

Curtice, Caleb was from Hebron and was an original 
proprietor. He drew the thirtieth home-lot, and lived 
where the late Elijah H. Williams lived. He had 
sons, Caleb, Jeremiah, Daniel and Nathaniel. Caleb 
lived at the Lockwood place, near Dr. Sears. Jere- 
miah lived at the Hancliet place, now occupied by A. 
Bryant, and Daniel at the place owned by the late 
Capt. Gibbs. Nathaniel lived on the home-lot. He 
was killed by the kick of a horse, October 19, 1802. 
Mr. Curtice, the elder, died November 20, 1777, at 
the age of seventy-four. 

Curtis, Setli was from Danbury, and came to Sharon 
in 1782. He lived where George W. Peck now lives. 
He was the father of the late Noah Curtis, and of 
David Curtis, yet surviving. He died March 27, 
1804, at the age of sixty-seven. 

Day, Tliomas was from Colchester and came to 
Sharon in 1755. He lived where Calvin Jackson 
now lives, on the mountain. He had two sons, Jona- 
than and Jeremiah, the former of whom died in early 
life. His younger son, Jeremiah, was educated at 
Yale College and graduated in 1756. Soon after he 
left college he was married, and settled in town as a 



TOWN OF SHARON. /5 

farmer. He was constable in 1765, and 1766, and 
selectman the latter year. He was representative to 
the Assembly in October, 1766, and in May, 1767. 
His wife died in August, 1767, and soon after that 
event he turned his attention to the ministry. He 
was, for many years, the minister of the parish of 
New Preston, in Washington. He was the father of 
the Rev. Jeremiah Day, D. D. President of Yale Col- 
lege and the Hon. Thomas Day, for many years sec- 
retary of the state of Connecticut. 

Epitaph. 

In memory of Mr. Jonathan Day, who departed 
this life January 8, 1763. 

Spectator! here you see 

Exemplified in me, 

Wliat you must shortly be. 

In memory of Mrs. Sarah Day, the late 

amiableconsortof the Rev. 

Jeremiah Day, who 

departed this life Aug. '25, 1767. 

She gives life, but O, pitiable consideration! 

gives it at the expense of her own, and at 

once becomes a mother and a corpse. 

Fiere et meminisse relictum est. 

In memory of Mr. Thomas Day, 
Died February 28, 1772, aged eighty-two. 
Life how short, 
Eternity how long ! 

Davisj Jonathan was from Rutland, Mass. and 
came to Sharon in 1746. He purchased of Jacob 
Bacon, the sixth home-lot, opposite the stone house 
now owned by Anson Boland. He sold this property 
in 175(3, and purchased a large tract of land below 
Hitchcock's Corner. He had one son, Ezra, who 
died in early life, leaving a widow and three children. 
Mr. Davis afterward lived over the line, in Oblong, 
but where he died is not known. 



76 HISTORY OF THE 

Delana, Deacon Thomas was from Wareham> Mass,. 
He lived a short time in Tolland, and came to Sharon 
in 1759. He settled in the south-west part of the 
town. The name was originally spelt De La Noy. 
Mr. Delano was chosen deacon of Mr. Knibloe's 
ehurch in 1767. He died September 8, 1803, aged 
seventy-seven. He had two sons, Jethro and StqjJien, 
the latter of whom died in 1840, at the age of more 
than ninety years. 

Epitaph. 

In memory of Jethro Delano, who died 
July 17, 1787, aged twenty-nine, 

Virtue alone to him did give, 
The gifc of knowing how to live ; 

A pattern to the growing youth^ 

A iiever failing friend of truth, 

Demingy Daniel was from Saybrook, and came to 
Sharon in 1782. He purchased of Amos Tyler, the 
place where his widow now lives. He was the father 
of Stephen Deming, Esq. of Litchfield, and Dr. Ralph 
Deming of ^hsLYon. He died May 15, 1816, at the 
age of sixty-six. 

Dibble, Capt^ Ebenezer was from Salisbury in 1776, 
He lived in the Great Hollow, near the watering 
place. He sold his farm to Adonijah Maxam in 1795, 
and removed to Saratoga county, N. Y. 

Dibble, Ebenezer was a son of Rev. Ebenezer 
Dibble, of Stamford, formerly Episcopal missionary 
in Sharon. He was a merchant and owned the brick 
house now known as the Taylor house. In 1781 he 
sold out to Robert G. Livingston, Esq. of New York, 
and removed to Pine Plains, N. Y. where he died. 
He was the father of Fyler Dibble, Esq. now of the 
city of New York. 

Dotey, Capt. Samuel was the ancestor of the Dotey 
family. He was from the old Plymouth colony, and 



TOWN OF SHARON. ' 

came to Sharon in 1747. He lived a little south of 
Lovell W. Chapman's, He practised surveying. He 
and his wife were both cut off by the small-pox m 
im He had two sons. David and Perez. Dav.d 
was a physician and lived near Hitchcock's Corner, 
Tnd was for a while a captain in the revolutionary 
service He died February 9, IS17, at the age of 
seventy-six. 

Downs, David Esq. was from New Haven, and 
came to Sharon about the year 1703^ ^e married a 
daughter of Mr. Thomas Day, and settled on the 
mou'ntain near Calvin Jackson's. He was a ta, or^by 
trade. He was captain of a company in the levolu- 
tionary service, and was, with his company, taken pris- 
oner at the Cedars in Canada, in 1776 He was fo 
many years one of the magistrates of the town and 
one of its representatives in the Assembly at eleven 
sessions. He had several sons who maintained a 
highly respectable character, but there are none of his 
delcendants now remaining in the town. He died 
December 13, 1813, at the age of seventy-seven. 

Dunham, Capt. Jonathan was from Colchester, and 

was a leading man in the first settlement of the town 

He lived opposite Jay S. Canfield's, and there kept he 

first tavern in the town. He was the agent to the 

Assembly to procure the incorporation of the town- 

fhip, and was appointed to call the first town meeting. 

Z^as standing' moderator of all the town mee ings 

holden during his life time, and select man of the 

"own during tl'e same period. His race, however, was 

a Thort one", as he died on the 28th day of February, 

1745 at th^ age of fifty-nine. He had several sons, 

one k whom? Sa,nuei, built the stone house, now 

owned by Aaron Boland. Capt. Dunham's grave stone 

is the oldest in our church yard. 



fr* 



78 HISTORY OF THE 

Elliott,, Samuel S. was from Killingworth and came 
to Sharon in 1780, He purchased of his brother-in 
law, Reuben Hopkins, the place where Joel B. 
Beecher now lives. His wife was the daughter of 
Colonel John Williams. He was the father of John 
A. Elliott, who now resides in town. He died on the 
22d day April, 1812, at the age of sixty. 

Elmer, Deacon Jonathan was from Norwalk, and 
came to Sharon in 1746. He first purchased of Caleb 
Jewett, the lot on which Gov. Smith now lives, and 
there resided till 1751, when he sold it to Jonathan 
Gillet, and removed to what is now called the Martin 
place, near the stone bridge. There he lived till his 
death January 5, 1758, at the age of seventy-three. 
He was highly respected as an officer in the church, 
and as a member of society. He had several sons, 
who lived in town, but there are none of his descend- 
ants bearing his name, remaining among us. 

Elmer, Martin was a son of the preceding, and was 
a cooper by trade, and a Baptist by religious profes- 
sion. He lived a bachelor, and died on the 8th day 
of August, 1778, at the age of seventy-three. The 
following epitaph is said to be highly expressive of his 
character : 

In silent shade, 
Here Ues the dust, 
Of liim who made, 
The Lord his trust. 

Ehner, Colonel Samuel was a son of Deacon J. 
Elmer, and was a brave officer in the revolutionary 
war. He was appointed a major in Colonel Hinman's 
regiment, in 1775, and was engaged in active duty in 
the campaign of that year. The next year he was 
appointed a colonel in the New York line, and con- 
tinued in command of a regiment while he remained 
in the army. He lived in the town until about 1801, 



79 

TOWN OF SHARON. 



>vUen he .e.oved - jhe -„ of i..«.;^ -^ Ve,..ont. 
where he remained till his cieaui.^ 
of John Elmore, Esq. of Canaan. 

r.verdU Ebcnezer was from Hebron in l^^^^^^ 

for several years *--va.d G ne al m ^ ^,^^^^^ 

Ebe Everett died Jar>uary f' 1^40; at '^e 
eiahty-six, leaving sons, Samuel L. AuguM., 



and John 



Ecerett, John was a brother of EbenezerEvereU 
and came' to Sharon from Wmdhatn m 1.5 . He 
was a blacksmith by trade, a"d ' "«<! on t^ie 
which formerly led ';-\-™ne'hild"f daughter, 
mfd Ebte';f f -ague Mr^ Everett went 
to Ohio, in the early settlement of that state ana 

"" rostrr, David was from Lebanon in 1750. He 
livf? on'the place wh.ch was occnp.ed by he ate 
John Jackson who was - J --law. ^^^^ 
leadmg man m the f "/^ °' ' yy at the October 
r/ss-rs fn nefaJ nel tSec^man eight years. 
He died in 1793. 

. Colonel Elmer's ';^-f^Z%':V::Tl::A<'ol^^:^^^- 

continued by tl.e family till the present t,me. 



80 



HISTORY OF THE 



Foster^ Elijah was a son of the preceding, and was 
a highly respectable man. He lived where Dr. Sears 
now lives, and was an early favorite of the town. He 
was for many years a constable. He entered the con- 
tinental army as a lieutenant in the campaign of 1776, 
and was in active service till the close of the year. 

His Epitaph. 

Here lies the body of Lieut. Elijah Foster, 

who died of the small-pox, Jantmiy 14, 1777, 

in the forty-second year of his age, 

on his return from the array. 

Inspired with freedom and her virtuous cause, 
To save his country from a tyrant's laws, 
Resolved an end to the unnatural strife. 
And in the glorious conflict, lost his life. 

Frishie, Deacon Ebenezer was from Branford, and 
was the first settler at the place occupied by the late 
Benjamin Bailey, on the Ellsworth turnpike. He 
came to Sharon with the first settlers, and beinop a 
surveyor, he was much employed in laying out lands 
in the early location of the township. He was town 
clerk from December 1743 to January 1746, and one 
of the deacons of the church nearly the whole time of 
his residence in the town. He had one son, Capt. 
Hezekiah Frisbie, who settled where Aaron Dunbar 
now lives, in Ellsworth. He died October 20, 1793, 
aged eighty-nine. 

Epitaph. 
How short is life we mortals see. 
How long is vast eternity. 
In time prepare for death and be 
Happy to all eternity. 

Deacon Frisbie was buried in the Ellsworth grave 
yard. 

Fuller, Benjamin was from Colchester, and came 
with the first settlers. He lived on the next lot below 
Governor Smith's. He was among the first who died 



TOWN OF SHARON. "* 



in the town, having departed this life in Decernber, 
1740. His widow afterwards married Nathaniel 
Slinncr, Esq. He had three sons, Mattluw, Josiah 
and Benjamin, the hitter of whom was father ot the 
late Capt. John Fuller. 

Gager, Dr. Samuel R. was born at Norwich, May 
23, 1763, and was an assistant surgeon m the navy in 
the revolutionary war. Soon after the close ot the 
war he visited England. He established himselt. in 
Sharon in the practice of surgery in 1788. He was 
loner celebrated in his profession, and was much re- 
spected as a citizen. He represented the town in the 
Assembly in the years 1821, 1822 and 1829. He 
was also for many years a justice of the peace, tie 
died August 4th, 1835.* 

Gallow, Joseph was from Hudson, N. Y. \^^'^^' 
He owned and occupied the place where Dr. John W. 
Smith now lives, and kept a tavern there for many 
years. He finally returned to Hudson, where he died. 
Gay John Esq. was born in Dedham, Mass. and in 
early life settled in Litchfield, and was among the first 
whife inhabitants of that town. In 1743 he came to 
Sharon, and purchased of Israel HoUey, the thu-ty- 
ninth home-lot, which was in the north part of the 
town. His house stood nearly opposite the present 
residence of.his grandson, Calvin Gay Esq. and was 
standing till within a few years. Mr. Gay was a 
hicrhly Respectable man, and lived to the advanced age 
o "nmVfour. He died on the 6th day of August 
1792 He had sons, John, Ebenezer, Fisher and 
Perez, John was the father of the late Capt. Daniel 



* It is 



.1 .f .-pm-irk that V/illtam Gaoer, the ancestor 
IS woithy of lemmli that ►v -^ ^ profession as 

of the Gaget- famUy ^ ^^;^^^^'^^^^ TaWs lim " a right 

i,is descendant l^^^-^.^r^V !lwrvu°eon '' His son John came to 

London, and from hun Dr. Gager descended. 



°" HISTORY OF THE 



Gay. He died January 1, 1776, at the age of forty- 
eight. ±.benezer was a merchant, and built the brick 
house now owned by Mrs. Hunt. He was a colonel in 
the mihtia, and frequently commanded detachments in 
the revolutionary war. He was the father of the late 
Mr. David Gay. He died July \Q, 1787, at the a^re 
of sixty-one. Fisher Gay settled in Farmington, 
where his descendants now reside. He died in the 
city of New York, early in the revolutionary war. 
Perez Gay d.ed of the small-pox in 1784. He was 
the father o^ Calvin Gay, Esq. now livino- 

(^ibbs, Job was from Wareham, Mass.'ind came to 
Sharon in 1747. His house is still standing, beino- 
the old dwelling next north of Jay S. Canfield's. Mr! 
Gibbs was a merchant and did a large business for 
those times He had three sons, Syivanus, Heman 
and Job. Capt. Sylvanus Gihbs, the eldest, was an 
otticer in the revolutionary war, and died on the 19th 
of June, 1834, at the age of eighty-one. 

Epitaph. 
Here lies interred ye body of Job Gibes. He died of ve 
smail-pox, Dec. ye 18th, 17G0, in ye 37ch year of hL IJe. 
I'm here confined, as you must be 
Oh then prepare to follow me, ' 
Because from death no a^e is free 
Get faith in God's eternal Son, 
In him there is salvation, 
Boast not thyself of cominij- time, •• 
Because to-morrow is not thine, ' 
Seek then, to-day, that you may find. 
Gillet, Jonathan was from Colchester, in 1745 
He ived in several places during his early years but 
finally established himself in 1753 where Ge'orae 
fekinner now lives. Here he resided thirty years and 
kept a taveni. He sold this place in 1783, and pur- 
chased of Timothy Carrier, Jun. the ph.ce where 
George White now lives, where he resided till his 
death. He was representative to the Assembly at the 



on 
TOWiN OF SHARON. ^" 



May and October sessions in 1788, and a delegate to 
fhe convention called to ratify the constuut.on of the 
United States. H,s wife was a d^>gl'ter of I horn^ 
Dav and sister of Rev. Jeremiah Day, of New Pres- 
ton Mr. Gdlett died December 31, 1814, at the age 
of eighty-nine. 

Gilkt, Chnrlcs was a brother of the precednig and 
came to Sharon from Colchester, in 1755^ He was a 
blacksmith by trade, and settled where Henry J. Plat t 
now lives. He was town treasurer from l-(iO to 
1771 when he removed to the mountam, having pur- 
h:sed of Rev. Jeremiah Day, of New Preston te 
place lately owned by John Jackson. He e listed 
Lto Capt. Downs' company, and marched to the 
northward in 1776. While the army lay at Me Cedars, 
"n Canada, he was killed by a party of Indians, lying 
n ambush as he was riding out on business connected 
with his duty as commissary. He eft fverd chil- 
dren, one of whom was the wife of the late Capt. Ed- 
mund Bennett. 

GilUon, Elcazer was from Goshen, Orange county 
N. Y. and came to Sharon in 1/84. He had been a 
soldier in the revolutionary war, and settled a li tie 
Torth of Deacon Woodward's. He was one of the 
firs emigrants to Ohio, and the first mail carrier on 
the p?st^ road between Pittsburgh and C eaveland 
He carried the whole mail in his pocket on foot. He 
died recently at the age of nearly ninety years. 

Goodrich, \yiUiam was the ancestor of «he Goodrich 
family which has been quite numerous in the town. 
He was originally from Wethersfield, and firs moved 
tn T iichfield where he remained ten years. He after- 
wards removed to Sheffield, Mass. and when the 
own hipTsharon was sold, he became the purchaser 
of Iwo rights. He brought his family to the town m 
the fall of 1738, and built a hut near the outlet ol 



84 HISTORY OF THE 

Mudge Pond. Here he spent the winter, with no 
neighbors except Indians, nearer than the Dutch set- 
tlements at Leedsville. He went to mill on foot, 
during the winter, once to New Milford, and once to 
Red Hook, N. Y. on snow shoes, and carried his 
wheat on his back. That he was a sincere Christian 
we may well believe from the introductory clause in 
his last will and testament, the first recorded on the 
probate records for the district of Litchfield, After 
speaking of the uncertainty of life as a reason for 
making his will, he says : *' wherefore, committing 
my body to the dust, from whence it was taken, and 
my soul to the bosom of my dear Lord Jesus Christ, 
hoping and believing that he will raise me up with all 
his saints at the glorious mornincr of the resurrection, 
I give, &c." Mr. Goodrich died on the 31st day of 
March, 1743, at the age of fifty-six. He had sons^ 
Samuel, Jared, William, Elnathan, David, Elisha, 
and Solomon, andf their descendants have been very 
numerous. His wife survived him about seven years, 
and one tomb stone marks the resting place of both, 
on which is inscribed the followinor 

Epitaph. 

Here lie the husband and the wife, 
Interred beneath this double tomb, 
This double witness may suffice, 
To prove that death will be our doom. 

Goodwin, John P. was from Hartford, and came to 
Sharon in 1784. He lived where his son, the late 
Hezekiah Goodwin, resided, and died on the 5th of 
May, 1807, aged eighty-two. He had two sons, John 
P. and Hezekiah, the last of whom was a man much 
respected and beloved. He was a corporal in the 
continental army, and was eight years in the service. 
His discharge, under the hand of General Washington, 
spoke highly of his merits. He was a representative 



TOWN OF SHARON. 85 

to the Assembly in May, 1818. He was killed at the 
raising of a small building, belonging to Benjamin 
Ilollister, Esq. on the 15th of May, 1833, and his un- 
timely end was deeply lamented. He died at the age 
of seventy-two. 

Gould, John was an original proprietor, from He- 
bron, and drew the thirty-fourth home-lot, the same 
on which George Cole now lives. His house stood 
on the hill west of Mr. Cole's present dwelling-house. 
He appears to have been, atone time, a man of hand- 
some estate, but in his old age became poor, and was 
supported by the town. He was grave digger for 
many years. He died about 1782. 

Gould, Job was from New Milford, in 17(33, and 
purchased of Deacon Jackson, the place on the moun- 
tain now owned by his grandson Major David Gould. 
He had two sons. Job and David, the former of whom 
settled in Mudgetown, near Isaac Reed's, and the 
latter remained on the mountain. Mr. Gould, the 
elder, died February 27, 1795, at the age of ninety- 
five. His son David, died April 19, 1824, at the age 
of seventy-seven. Job, Jun. died at the time indica- 
ted in the followincr 

o 

Epitaph. 

Sacred to the memory of Job Gould, Jun. 
who died April 19, 1794, aged fifty-nine. 
O pttinful thought, yet we must know. 
The grave's the place where all must go, 
If dear, good, wise, and just they be, 
Yet death's their lot as here we see. 

Gray^ John was from Scotland, and came to Sharon 
in 1743. He first settled in the valley, and his house 
stood on the bank, a little east of Henry Hotchkiss's. 
In 1748, he sold this place io Abel Wood, and removed 
to the mountain, a little east of the Gould place, where 
he died in 1761. He left sons, John, Silas, Darius 

8 



86 HISTORY OF THE 

and William. Darius was the father of Silas A. Gray, 
Esq. The revohitionary services of William have 
been described in a former page. 

Gregory., Joseph was from Nor walk in 1759. He 
lived where Philo Hamlin now lives. He was a mer- 
chant for many years. He removed to Catskill, N. Y. 
where he died. He had sons, Stephen, Justus, Eben- 
ezcr, Uriah, Elias and Daniel. 

Griswold, Ephraim was an early settler, and lived 
where David VVoodard now lives. He had three 
sons, Azariah, David and Jahcz. Fie removed to 
Spencertown, N. Y. before the revolution. Azariah 
Griswold, was a subaltern officer in the revolutionary 
army. He lived where William Knibloe now lives. 
He sold this place in 1780 to John Foster. 

Griswold, DanielF,sq. was from Norwich in 1756. 
He lived where Richard Smith, Esq. now lives. He 
was a physician and pursued the practice of that pro- 
fession for many years. He was appointed a justice 
of the peace at an early day. On the death of Col. 
Williams in 1774, he was appointed town clerk, which 
office he held till his death. He also succeeded the 
latter gentleman as deacon in the church. 

Epilo.pli. 

Sacred to the memory of Daniel Griswold, Esq. 
who departed this life Dec. 22, 1792, 
aged sixty-six. 
The wise, the good, the virtuous and the just, 
Lies here entomb'd to moulder into dust, 
But death must yield, resign the mouldering clay, 
To shine and sparkle in eternal day. 

Griswold, Francis was a brother of the preceding, 
and came to Sharon in 1762. He was a tanner and 
currier by trade, and he lived on the corner a little 
north of Ansel Mallory's. His tannery was near his 
house where the cider-mill now stands. He died 
November 6, 1778, at the age of forty-three. 



TOWN OF SHARON. 87 

Grisivold, Capt. Adonijah another brother of Dan- 
iel Griswold, Esq. came to Sharon in 1762. He set- 
tled in Mudge town where Jesse Lake now lives. He 
was a lieutenant in Capt. Down's company in 1776. 
He died September 19, 1807, at the age of sixty-eight. 
He had three sons, Adonijah, Chester and John^ the 
latter of whom is still living in Tompkins county, 
N. Y. 

Hamilton, David, was from Lebanon, and was the 
first settler on the place now owned by Judge Ster- 
ling. He afterwards lived opposite Governor Smith's. 
He appears to have been the great land speculator of 
the day, his name appearing on the records as the 
grantor or grantee in deeds, more frequently than any 
other. He was also for a time a deputy sheriff. He 
died in 1781, leaving sons, Dudley, John, and Joseph. 
Joseph was a physician, and practised medicine in the 
town for several years. Dudley formerly lived where 
Trowbridge Lockwood now lives. Mr. Hamilton dis- 
posed of most of his real estate in town previous to 
his death. He was largely interested in land in Ver- 
mont, and in what was called the Susquehannah Pur- 
chase. 

Hamlin, Cornelius, was an early settler from Ware- 
ham, Massachusetts, and lived near Mrs. Hunt's. He 
afterwards lived in the Hollow, near the iron works, 
in which he was a part owner. He also lived for a 
while near the head of Mudore Pond. In 1760 he re- 
moved to Spencertown, New York, but soon returned, 
and here spent his days. He had one son, Cornelius, 
who died in early life. 

Hamlin^ Deacon Ebenezer, was also from Ware- 
ham, and first lived where Georore Skinner now lives. 
He afterwards removed to the south part of the town, 
below Hitchcock's Corner. By his last will, he left 
24 pounds old tenor bills, for the support of the gos. 



88 HISTORY OF THE 

pel in the Congregational society at the Corner. He 
had sons, Ebenczer, Tho?nns, Isaac and Lewis. — 
Thomas was the grandfather of Philo Hamlin, who is 
the only descendant of Deacon Hamlin now remain- 
ing in the town. Deacon Hamlin died in 1755. 

Hamlin^ Deacon Benjamin, was son of Deacon 
Eleazer Hamlin, of Fredericksburg, now Carmel, in 
Putnam county, New York. He came to Sharon in 
1780, and lived at different places in the north-west 
part of the town. He was elected Deacon of the 
Congregational Church in 1793, and held the office 
till his death. He maintained a very pure and spot- 
less character, and died, universally lamented. 

Epitaph. 

The remains of Bknjamin Hamijn, 

Seniour Deacon of the first Cliurch of Christ in Sharon, 

whose piety, meekness, and sweetnec^s of temper, rendered him 

alike a blessin;^ to the church, an ornament to society, 

and the delight of his acquaintance. 

This eminent servant of God, 

expired in full assurance of a blessed immortality, 

on the 6ih Oct , 1820, in the Gist year of his age. 

Hanchet, Sylvanns, was from Salisbury, in 1769. 
He lived where Alden Bryan now lives. He is cele- 
brated as being the first person who formally invited 
the Methodist preachers into Sharon, in 1788. It 
was at his house that the first Methodist society was 
formed, by Rev. Freeborn Garretson, and where pub- 
lic worship was celebrated for several years. He re- 
moved to the State of New York many years since, 
where he died. 

Harvey, JocU was from New Milford, in 1742, and 
settled in the valley. He built a grist-mill, which stood 
more than sixty years. He also built the stone house, 
in the valley, in 1747. He was a large land holder, 
and had a very numerous family, many of whom died 



TOWN OF SHAROx\. 89 

of the consumption. Mr. Harvey died Dec. 26, 1796, 

at the age of 84. His Epitaph, — 

All nations must 
Return to dust. 

Hatch, Capt. Ebenczcr, was from Kent, in 1768. 
He lived on the place now owned by Rev. Aaron Hunt, 
below Hitchcock's Corner. He was a respectable 
man, and served many years as selectman, and in 
other important offices. He left the town many years 
since. 

Hcatli, JBartlwlomcw, was from Lebanon, and was 
among the first settlers. He lived in the north part 
of the town, where his son, Thomas Heath, now lives. 
Thomas Heath is the only person now living in the 
town, who is a son of one of the original proprie- 
tors. 

Epitaph. 

In memory of Mr. Bartholomew Heath, who died Feb. 11, 1789. 
in ye 79th year of his age. 

My glass is run, my days are spent, 
The fleeting moments Heaven hath sent; 
And now to God I yield my breath, 
And calmly fall asleep in death. 

Hide, David, was from Lebanon, in 1748. He 
purchased of Samuel Gillet the 41st home lot, the 
same on which Homer Pardee now lives. He was 
appointed constable in 1750, and served in that capa- 
city, and as collector, ten years. He was also a dep- 
uty sheriff for several years. He was unfortunate in 
not being able to render a satisfactory account of the 
moneys he had collected, and on that account fell into 
disrepute the latter part of his life. 

Hide, William, was from Lebanon, in 1759. He 
lived where John Parsons now lives. He had two 
eons, Eleazer and William W. He died Dec. 26, 
1770, at the age of fifty. 

8* 



90 HISTORY OF THE 

Hitchcock, Samuel, was from Norwalk, in 1752. — 
He purchased of Jonathan Gillet the place where 
Gov. Smith now lives, and resided there five years — 
He then removed to the south part of the town, where 
his son, the late Asa Hitchcock lived, and there spent 
the remainder of his days. It was at his house that 
the first Methodist sermon, preached in the town, was 
delivered. He died January 1, 1794, at the age of 
sixty-eight. He had seven sons, Samuel, Thomas, 
Solomon, Amariah, Pcnucl, Stephen, and Asa. The 
hitter died Dec. 26, 1829, at the age of fifty-nine. 

Holley, Israel, was an early settler, from Stamford.. 
He first owned and lived upon the 39th home lot, 
which he sold to John Gay, Esq., in 1743, and re- 
moved to the Great Hollow. He there lived on the 
place lately owned by Capt. Dibble. He had two> 
sons, Israel and Nathaniel. 

Holley, Joseph, was from Stamford, and was the- 
original owner of one half of the 3Gth home lot, the 
same on which the late Georore Bissell afterwards 
lived. This he sold in 1743, to John Sprague, and 
he afterwards lived in Turkey Holloiv, a little north 
of Deacon Woodard's. He had three sons, Jona- 
than, John, and Sylvanus. Jonathan removed to 
Richmond, Massachusetts. Sylvanus lived near the 
outlet of Indian Pond. John, who was the second 
son, was the father of Luther Holley, Esq., who was 
for many years an eminent citizen of the town of Salis- 
bury. This last named gentleman was born in Tur- 
key Hollow in 1752. 

Hollister, Josiah, from Glastenbury, was the com- 
mon ancestor of the Hollister family which resided in 
the south part of the town. He purchased of Matthew 
Judd, in 1742, the 2d home lot, the same on which 
John B. Lovell now lives. He had two sons, Josiah 
and Samuel. Josiah settled on the home lot, and 



TOWN OF SHARON. 91 

Samuel settled where Deacon Woodard now lives. — 
Josiah had two sons, John and Benjamin. Benjamin 
settled in Oblong, New York, near the present village 
of Leedsville, where his descendants yet remain. — 
He died Oct. 3, 1801, at the age of 74. Lieut. John 
HoUistcr died May 19, 1769, at the age of fifty, leav- 
ing sons, Jeremiah, David, John, Nathan, and Josiah. 
John was killed at the battle of Stillwater, in 1777. — 
David became the owner of a larije and valuable real 
estate. He lived where Enoch Lambert now lives. — 
He was the father of the late John J. Hollister, and 
of Joseph L. Hollister, now living, who is the only 
;Survivor of this once large family now remaining in 
,town. 

Epitajph. 

Ii) memory of David Hollister, who departed this life 
Feb. 20. 1807, ill the 53d year ot his age. 

Alas ! how soon all earthly joys are fled, 
Our dearest friend is buried witli the dead. 
In vain we mourn, in vain the loss deplore, 
In vain look back to what he was before, 
From us he's gone, on earth he's seen no more. 

Hollister, Samuel, from whom the family of that 
fiame in the south-east part of the town are descend- 
(Cd, was from the parish of Kensington, in Inarming- 
ton, now Berlin. In 1744 he purchased of Dr. George 
Holloway, of Cornwall, one hundred acres of land on 
the Ousatonic River, which had formerly been laid 
out to Joseph Skinner. There he settled and died. 
He had two sons, Gershom and Elisha. Gershom 
was unfortunately killed at the raising of a barn, in 
Cornwall, in 1792. Elisha lived to an advanced age, 
and died in 1815. He left sons, Samuel, Elisha, 
Amos and Asahel. There are many of his descend- 
ants yet remaining in that neighborhood. 

Hunt, Daniel, was from Lebanon, at the earliest 



laiaiwivx yjr l ci Cj 



settlement of the town. He lived on the mountain, 
at what was called the Randall House. He after- 
wards lived at the Tanner place. He removed to^Ver- 
mont before he died. One of his dauorhters, who was 
the mother of Dr. Sears, lived to the age of ninety- 
four years. 

Hunt, Phineas, a brother of the preceding, was 
from Lebanon, in 1747. He bought of Caleb Chappell, 
the farm on which his descendants now reside in 
Ellsworth. He had but one son, the late Phineas 
Hunt, to whom, by his will, he gave all his estate. — 
He died August 22, 1787, at the age of 72. The son 
died Oct. 28, 1827, at the age of 69. 

Hunter, Jonathan, was from Wareham, Massachu- 
setts, where he had been Deacon of the church. He 
came to Sharon in 1747, and purchased of Benjamin 
Richmond the farm on which Benjamin Sears now 
lives. His wife was a daughter of Deacon Ebenezer 
Hamlin. He died in 1762. He had two sons, Da- 
vid and Jonathan, who removed, soon after his de- 
cease, to Stillwater, New York. His widow after- 
wards married Lieut. John Pardee. 

Hunter, Ebenezer, was from Norwich, about the 
year 1760. He lived on the mountain, in the south- 
west part of the town. His son, Nathaniel Hunter, 
who was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, is yet 
living, at the age of eighty-three. 

Hurlhurt, Capt. Samuel, was from Lebanon, in 
1743. He purchased of Caleb Strong the west half 
of the 25th home-lot, on which Capt. Benjamin Lines 
now lives. He was the first merchant in the town. — 
He was at one time possessed of a large and valuable 
estate, but before the close of his life he was reduced 
to poverty. He died June 4, 1789, aged 77. 

Hutchinson, Samuel, Esq., was one of the first set 
tiers, and the second magistrate in the town. He was 



TOWN OF SHARON. 93 

from Lebanon, and drew the 10th home-lot, the same 
on which the stone house now owned by Anson Bo- 
land stands. In 1751 he sold that place, and pur- 
chased the first minister's lot of the Rev. Peter Pratt. 
His house stood where Judson St. John's tavern now 
stands. In 17(52 he removed to Spencertown, New 
York, where it is supposed he died. He had three 
sons, Samufl, Ezra, and Solomon, the two latter of 
whom settled in this town, and gave the name to 
Hutchinson Hollow, where they lived. The only 
descendant of Esq. Hutchinson now residing in town, 
is his great grandson, (Jrrin Hutchinson. 

Jackson, Deacon Ebenezer, was from Norwalk, and 
settled on the 42d home lot, now owned by David 
Gould, on the mountain. He was early chosen Dea- 
con of the church, and was a highly reputable and 
useful man. He had six sons, Ebenezer, Joshua, 
John, Abraham, Stephen and Joseph, most of whom 
settled in the eastern parts of the town. In lt63 he 
sold his home lot to Job Gould, and from that time 
lived with one of his sons at the River till his death, 
in 1766. 

Jewett, Capt. Caleb, was from Norwich, now Lis- 
bon, in 1748. He first purchased and occupied the 
lot on which Gov. Smith now lives, but in 1744 he 
sold it to Deacon Elmer, and bought of Samuel Chap- 
man, the farm on the mountain now owned by his 
grandson, John S. Jewett. He was selectman of 
the town twelve years, and Representative to the As- 
sembly at eleven sessions. He had sons, Caleb, Na- 
than, Thaddeus and Alpheus, the last of whom, after 
a life of much public employment, and of great use- 
fulness, died recently at the age of 86. 

Epitaph. 
In memory of Capt. Caleb Jewett, 
who died Jan. 18, 1778, in the 68ih year of his age. 
Let not the dead forgotten lie, 
Lest we forget that we must die. 



94 HISTORY OF THE 

Jennings^ Joseph^ was from Fairfield, in 1771. — 
He lived at the place lately owned by George Bissell. 
He died August 5, 1780, at the age of G4. He left 
sons, Justin, Reuben, Charles and Joseph. They all 
left the town soon after the death of their father. 

Johns, Benjamin, was an early settler in the Valley, 
and lived on the Burr place. He sold out in 1752 to 
Samuel Smith, and removed into the State of New 
York, near the present residence of Moses Clark, in 
North East. He died of the small pox. 

Jones, Evan, was the first settler upon the place 
owned by Deacon William M. Smith. He came with 
the first settlers, from Hebron, and remained in the 
town till 1750, when he sold out to the Rev. John 
Searl. 

Juckett, Elijah, was originally from old Plymouth 
Colony, Massachusetts. He served faithfully and hon- 
orably through the Revolutionary war, and was a ser- 
geant in the light infantry under General La Fayette. 
He was in the severe conflict at Stony Point, when 
that post was taken by General Wayne, as well as in 
several other battles. He was a pensioner under the 
act of 1818. He died in 1839, at the age of 78. 

Kellogg, Oliver, Esq., was from Sheffield, Massa- 
c usetts, and settled in Sharon in 1788. He was a 
clothier by trade, and lived at Hitchcock's Corner. — 
He was a highly respectable and influential citizen, 
and was a representative to the Assembly at sixteen 
sessions. He was also for many years one of the ma- 
gistrates of the town. He died Sept. 17, 1830, at the 
age of 70. 

Ketcham, Elihu, was the first settler on the Bates 
place, so called, now owned by Merrills McLean. — 
This he sold in 1748 to John Marvin, Jr. From that 
time to 1753 he lived near the school-house in the 
Boland district, when he left the town. 



TOWN OF SHARON. 95 

King, George^ was from Windsor, in 1784. He 
had previously been connected with the commissary 
department of the army, and at the close of the war, 
established himself as a merchant, in company with 
Eli Mills. He prosecuted business with great suc- 
cess for many years, and accumulated a large and val- 
uable estate. He died Nov. 31, 1831, at the age of 
seventy-seven. 

Knibloe, Rev. Ebenezer, some account of this gen- 
tleman is given in a foregoing part of this work. It 
may here be added that he had three sons, William, 
Elijah, and JohnP., all of whom were cut off within a 
i^ew weeks of each other, by the epidemic which swept 
over the town in 1812. 

Knickerbacktry Cornelius, was one of the early 
Dutch inhabitants of Salisbury, and lived at the Fur- 
nace Village. In 1748 he exchanged farms with 
Capt. John Sprague, and took possession of the 37th 
home-lot, where the Messrs. Prindle now live in Gay 
street. The pond now called Bcardslee Pond, \v<is 
for many years called Knickerbackcr'' s Pond, from its 
vicinity to his residence. He died March 3, 1776, at 
the age of eighty- four. 

Lake, Joseph, was a soldier in the old French war, 
and in the war of the Revolution. He came to Sha- 
ron from Stratford, in 1772, and purchased of Jabez 
Hamlin the place where his son, Andrew Lake, now 
lives, near the Indian Pond. He lived, for many of 
the last years of his life, in the eastern part of the 
town, where Jeremiah Calkin now lives. He died 
April 24, 1813, at the age of seventy-four. 

Landers, Joseph, was from Wareham, Massachu- 
setts, in 1748. He bought of Caleb Chappell the 8th 
home-lot, on which Dr. Ralph Deming now lives. — 
He died on the 5th day of August, 1781, at the ad- 



" HISTORY OF THE 

vanced age of 94. His wife, who died the preceding 
January, reached the age of ninety-seven. ^'^""^'"3 

Their Epitaph. 
Behold and see this wonder here 
This couple lived full seventy ye'ar 
in wedlock bands ; now yield to death,— 
JNniety odd years 'tis from their birth. 

Landers, Joseph^ Jr., was a son of the precedinrr 
and J,ved w.th his father on the 8th hoZloi ie 
was appointed a Deacon of the Church in 1781 in the 

r iaTned'tintrd T''^ '''''''''' which officVh: 
A se^biv t^th^^ "' ^'-^ ' representative to the 

Assembly at the May session 1782. 

jEpit :ph. 

In memory ofDeacon Joseph Landers, who died 
August 31, 1801, aged 79. 
Emomb'd in earth, beneath this stone. 

My aged body lies at rest, 
With this terrestrial ball I've done, 

And now reside among the blest.— 
l* ar from confusion here I lie 

And calmly rest my hoary head • 
My lovmg friends, prepare to die, ' 

i'or there's no peace but with the dead. 

Lewis, Samuel, was from Hebron, in 1743 Wp^ 
was the first settler on the 9th lot in the first hu'ndred 
acre division, the same where Ichabod Everitt now 
ives in Ellsworth. He contn.ued in town abo thir^ 

chusTtts' "hi "" 'r^'"! '? ^^" ^^«^^^-d' ^f- a- 
chusetts. His son, Samuel Lewis, Jr., was a soldier 

m the early part of the Revolutionary war, and ah s 
tory of his captivity in England, and his escape L 
given m the former part of this work. He died sion 
after his return, leaving a wife and three children 

Lillie, David, was from Windham, in 1765 He 
settled in Gay street, and built the house now owned 



TOWN OF SHARON. *" 



by the Messrs. Prindle. He removed to Ohio about 

'^'Z^rV^TNathanich was from New Canaan, in 
1784, and purchased the farm on the mountam known 
as th; Lockwood place, near Mr. .lewett's He died 
Feb 26 1785, at the age of thirty-three, of consump- 
tion. His sons, Trowbridge and Lams still survwe 
His widow afterwards married John Williams, and she 
is still living at a very advanced age. 

Lord, Jonathan, was fron. Colchester ^n^ was one 
of the first inhabitants of Ellsworth, where he settled 
in 1743. He lived where Lewis St. John now lives. 
He died in l'/60. 

Lord, Joseph, Esq., was a son of the PJ-ecedmg, and 
came to' the town with his father in l^^B. He was 
for many years the only Justice of the Peace in Ells- 
worth. He was for several years a bdect man, and 
Tember of the Assembly in October 1777^ He died 
Set 28, 1778, at the age of fifty-eight He was the 
first person buried in the burying yard now used m 
Ellsworth. 

Lott, Baltus.—rh\s individual appears to have 
been a squatter upon the public lands before the town- 
ship was sold. He was probably a Dutchman, and 
had taken possession of a considerable tract of land in 
Connecticut and New York, and had erected a house 
and barrack, and made considerable clearings. His 
territory embraced what is now called the Burr farm 
The proprietors made many efforts to remove him, but 
he resisted them all until March ^42 when Joseph 
Skinner purchased his possessions for 300 pounds old 
tenor, and he went away. He afterwards lived in the 
north part of Amenia, New York. 

Lovell, John, came to this part of the country from 
Rochester, Mass., in 1745, He first settled in Oblong, 



9 



98 HISTORY OF THE 

N. York, where Lewis Lockwood now lives. In 1770 
he removed to Sharon, and purchased of David Boland 
the 2d home-lot, where his grandson, John B. Lovell, 
now lives. He died Nov. 3, 1789, at the age of fifty- 
eight. His only son, Capt. Joshua Lovell, who was 
a respectable citizen of the town, lived upon the same 
place until his death, in February 1838, at the age of 
seventy-one. 

LovelU Joseph, was from Rochester, Massachusetts. 
He first settled in Kent, but in 1767 he purchased the 
35th lot in the first hundred acre division, of Samuel 
Hollister, Jr. He lived at what was formerly known 
as the Clinton place, on the road leading east from 
Caleb Chapman's. He had two sons, Levi and Jo- 
seph. 

Manroic, Joseph, was from Nor walk, in 1744. He 
settled on the corner opposite John S. Jewett's, and 
the old orchard which he planted is still standing. In 
1750 he exchanored farms with Matthew Fuller, and 
removed to the mountain, near David Curtis'. In 
1752 he sold this place to John Jackson, and became 
the owner of a grist-mill near the Bates place. This 
property he sold in 1757 to David Hamilton, and re- 
moved from the town. 

Manrow, Noah, was for more than forty years an 
inhabitant of Mudgetown. He came from Salisbury 
in 1751. He lived on the borders of the Pond, in a 
house lately destroyed by fire, then owned by Captain 
Benjamin Lines. He died May 5th, 1793, at the age 
of sixty-four. He left sons, Noah, Yoiinglovc, Daniel 
and Philo. 

Merchant, Amos, from Newtown, came to Sharon 
in 1773. He bought of Ebenezer Sprague the home- 
lot on which Calvin Gay, Esq., now resides, and built 
the brick house now owned by that gentleman. He 



TOWN OF SHARON. 99 

was one of the victims of the small pox, which swept 
over the town with such terrible severity in 1784. — 
He had sons, Joseph, AshbeU Wheeler and Elijah. 

Epitaph. 

In memory of Amos Marchant, who died of thesniallpox, 
Dec. 19, 1784, aged G2. 
Though death be potent, as a king, 
And wounds with his envenom'd sting, 
Yet faith fresh vigor will impart, 
To rob the tyrant of liis dart. 

3Iarrincr, Capt. Ephraim, was from Colchester, in 
1765. He settled in Abel street, where Stephen Tick- 
ner now lives, and lived there until 1786. He then 
removed to the north part of the town, and resided 
there till his death in 18 lU. He was a member of the 
Assembly in May 1787, and in May and October 1788. 
He had two sons, Ephraim and JBuel, who removed 
to Yates Co., N. York, several years since. 

Marsh, Pelatiah was from Lebanon in 1764. He 
settled in the east part of the town, where his grand- 
son, Elijah Marsh, now lives. He died April 8, 1790, 
at the age of eighty-three. His son, Jesse Marsh, 
father of Elijah Marsh, lived at the same place, and 
died October 25, 1822, at the age of eighty. 

Martin, Eliphakt was from Windham in 1786. 
He first settled where Adonijah Maxam now lives, 
which place had previously been owned by David Bar- 
rows. He afterwards purchased of Dr. Samuel Rock- 
well, the Elmer place, near the stone bridge, where 
he resided till his death. He was much employed in 
the business of the town. He died April 11, 1801, at 
the age of forty-seven. 

Marvin, John .Tun. was fromNorwalk in 1748. He 
bouffht of Elihu Ketcham, the farm called \.\\e Bates 
'place, about one mile easterly from the meeting-house, 
and lived there. He was also a part owner in thf 



100 



HISTORY OF THE 



iron works at the month of Mudge pond. In 1752, 
sold the Bates place to his father, who then removed 
to the town, and who died February 9, 1774, at the 
age of ninety-six. Mr. Marvin was a member of As- 
sembly in May, 1756 and 1708. In 1770 he removed 
to Brook Haven, Long Island, where he resided till 
his death in 1783. 

31a2am Adonij ah wns from the old Colony in 1748. 
The name, in the early records, is spelt Mwxam, and 
is so pronounced by elderly people at the present day. 
Mr. Maxam settled where Orrin Abel now lives, on the 
Ellsworth turnpike, where he died in 1760. He left 
four sons, ^mnitel, Bciijcwnri, Adoriijah and Jacob. 
The third son, Af/onijah, after having gone through 
the active and perilous services of the revolutionary 
war, which have been detailed in a preceding chapter, 
still survives in vigorous health and in the full enjoy- 
ment of his mental faculties, at the age of eighty-eight. 

Millard^ Joshua was from Cornwall in 1768. He 
was the first settler upon the place now owned by 
Walter Skiff in Ellvvsorth, He remained in town 
about thirty years, and then removed to Egremont, 
Mass. 

Miller, Henry was from Branford in 1750. He 
was the first settler on the farm now owned by deacon 
Jabez Swift, on the Ousatonic river, and his house, 
the remains of which are still visible, was on the old 
road that formerly led north from Swift's bridge. He 
afterwards lived in Kent. He was the grand-father of 
Hubbel Miller, Esq. of Kent. 

3Iiller, Deaton Gain was born in Ireland, in 1716. 
He came to Sharon in 1763, and purchased of Daniel 
Hunt, the place formerly occupied as a poor house, 
near Capt. John Parson's, where he resided during his 
life. He was elected deacon July 6, 1781, which 
office he resigned in August, 1799, and the late deacon 



TOWN OF SHARON. 



101 



Chamberlain was chosen in his place. He left one 
son, the late Thomas Miller, who was the father of 
Daniel Miller, yet living. 

Epitaph. 

In memory of Deacon Gain Miller, who died 
November IG, 1801), aged ninety-lhree. 

I've long'd to join the heavenly song, 
Of aniliems ever new. 

To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, 
And bid the world adieu. 

Mudge, Ebenczer was one of the original proprie- 
tors of the town, and was from Colchester. He drew 
the twenty-fifth home-lot, lying on both sides of town 
street, and embracing the places now owned by Capt. 
Lines and Baldwin Reed on the west, and by major 
Gould, Mrs. Ilimt and Messrs. Skinner and Camp on 
the east. In 1743 he settled on the western border 
of Slcinneys pond, as it was then called. Here he 
lived until his death April 21, 1758, at the age of 
seventy-five. He had six sons, viz. Samuel, Mica, 
Abraham, Ebenczer, Jarvis and Joseph. Samuel lived 
on the place now owned by Isaac Reed, which he sold 
in 1772, to Job Gould, Junior. 3Iica lived a while 
in Ellsworth, and was a part owner of the first mill 
near Lorin Emons's. He removed to Albany county, 
New York, in 1758. Abraham lived at the Gris- 
wold place, now owned by Jesse Lake. Ebenczer 
removed to Canaan in 1763, where he lived till 
1775, when he removed to New Ashford, Mass. 
Jarvis settled on the homestead, but he soon sold it 
to Noah Monroe, and left the town. Thus, this nu- 
merous and respectable family had all left the town 
previous to the revolutionary war, but the beautiful 
lake on whose borders they settled will commemorate 
their name through all succeeding tiine. 

North, Capt. Thomas was from Wethersfield in 
9* 



102 HISTORY OF THE 

1743. He was one of the first proprietors of the iron 
works in the HolJow. He lived on the twenty-sixth 
home-Jot, known as the Captain Patchen place. He 
served as select-man for several years. He removed 
into the state of New York in J 753. 

Noyes, Calvin was from Lyme, and was a direct 
descendant of the Rev. Mr. Noyes, the first minister 
of that town. He came to Sharon in 1792, and pur- 
chased a large and valuable real estate in the neigh- 
borhood of Benedict's mill, where he resided. He 
was distinguished for his public spirit, and for his 
many acts of private charity. He lived a bachelor, 
and for the last few years of his life was entirely blind. 
By his last will he gave the greater part of his estate 
to the Congregational society in Sharon, the Ameri- 
can Education Society, the Connecticut Missionary 
Society and the Connecticut Bible Society. Each of 
those societies has received nearly seventeen hundred 
dollars from his estate. He died at the residence of 
his brother, deacon Moses Noyes, in Poultney, Vt. 
January 22, 1831, at the age of eighty. 

Noyes, Selden was a younger brother of the prece- 
ding, and came with him from Lyme, in 1792. He 
lived where Eliakim S. Stoddard now lives. He was 
cut off in early life by consumption. He left sons, 
Milton, Selden, John and Joseph. 

Epitaph. 

Sacred to the memory of Sri-den Noves, 
who died July 5, ISJl, a^ed thirty-four years. 

Though death's cold stroke the bond lias broke, 
That joined the hand and heart, 
Yet should they stand at Christ's right hand, 
They never more can part. 

Orton, John was from Litchfield in 1764. He 
married a daughter of deacon Joseph Landers, and 
settled on the place now owned by his son, Joseph 



TOWN OF SIIAKON. 103 

Orton, which originally belonged to John Davis. He 
left two sons, Joseph and Luther. 

Epitaph, 

In memory of John Orton, who died April 9, 1785, 
in the forty-second year of his age. 

In prime oflife he yields his breath, 
While weeping friends lament his death, 
But d^ath must yield, his dust restore, 
Where frietids shall meet but weep no more. 

Pardee, Lieut. John the patriarch of the numerous 
family of Pardee, in Sharon, was from Norwalk, and 
was an original proprietor. He was a shoemaker and 
tanner by occupation, and settled near the stone 
bridge north of the meeting-house. He was a leading 
and prominent man in all the affairs of the town, and 
was a very large land-holder. Pie was one of the first 
representatives of the town in the legislature, being 
elected snch in October, 1755, when the town was 
first represented in that body; and he was chosen to 
that oflice at six sessions. He died July 13, 1766, 
aged sixty-nine. He had six sons who settled in the 
town, and whose descendants are very numerous, viz. 
Thomas, Jehiel, John, James, George and Moses. 
Thomcis settled on the mountain, where Simeon B. 
Sears now lives, and he was the father of the late Capt. 
Samuel Pardee. He died August 1, 1806, at the age 
of eighty-four. Jehiel settled where Clark Pardee 
now lives and was grand-father to the last named gen- 
tleman. John settled in the Great Hollow, and he 
was the father of the late Isaac Pardee, Esq. James 
lived on the home-lot and built the brick house now 
known as the Pardee house. George and Moses lived 
just north of the stone bridge. Thomas and James 
were members of the Assembly several times, as was 
their nephew, the late Isaac Pardee, Esq. This last 
named gentleman died, very suddenly, on the 8th day 
of May, 1825, at the age of seventy-six. 



104 HISTORY OF THE 

Park, Joseph was from Middletovvn and was the first 
settler on the place owned by the heirs of the late 
Samuel Beecher. He sold his farm in 1746 to Na- 
thaniel Richards, and removed to Salisbury. He had 
two sons, Smith and Danid. Smith lived where 
Bela Lamb now lives, near George White's, until 
1780, when he sold the place to Benjamin Conklin, 
and removed to New Canaan, N. Y. where he died. 
Daniel lived where Horace Reed now lives, until 1762, 
when he sold the place to John Pennoyer,and left the 
town. 

Parsons, Capf. Enoch v/as from Newtown in 1763. 
He was a carpenter by trade, and settled where his. 
son, Freeman W. Parsons, now lives. Being a man 
of more than a common education for those days, he 
was appointed, for many years, to "line the psalm," 
agreeable to the ancient manner of singing in public 
worship. He served as selectman and constable for 
several years, and was member of the Assembly in 
October, VSo. He died October ], 1829, aged 
eighty-nine. He left four sons, Stephen, Freeman^ 
Enoch and Amideus. 

Patchcn, Abel was from Wilton in 1783. He pur- 
chased of Zebulon Badcock the south half of the 
twenty-sixth home-lot, originally Deacon Skinner's, 
and kept a public house during his life. He was a 
representative to the Assembly in October, 1798 and 
May, 1799. He died April 9, 1805, at the age of 
fifty-three. He had one son, Stephen, who emigrated 
to Vermont, in early life. His three daughters, Mrs. 
Skiff, Mrs. Loicry and Mrs. Chase, all widows, still 
survive. 

Peck, Dr. Ahner was a physician, and came to 
Sharon in 1751, from Salisbury. He purchased a 
place of Luke St. John, a little south of Philo Ham- 



TOWN OF SHARON. 105 

lin's. He was cut off by the small-pox, October 11, 
175(1 leaving a widow and two daucrhters. 

Pennoyei'y John cume from Stamford in 1742. He 
purchased a part of the twenty-second home-lot, 
originally owned by Samuel Calkin, being the place 
where the late Gen. Augustin Taylor lived. He sold 
this place iu 1749, to his son, John, and removed to 
the state of New York, where the late Charles Wricrht 
lived, in the town of North East. He returned to 
Sharon in 17G9, and purchased the place at the head 
of the street, now owned by Chesterfield King. He 
died December II, 1785, at the age of seventy-eight. 
He had sons, Jonathan, John, Joseph and Jacob. Jona- 
than died in 1761. John built the brick house, known 
as the Taylor house, and also the one now owned by 
Dr. John W. Smith, in which latter place he kept a 
tavern. In 1785 he removed to Hudson, N. Y. where 
he died. Joseph settled in the town of North East, 
N. Y. and he was the father of the late Jonathan Pen- 
noyer. Jacob, the youngest son, owned the place 
now owned by George Skinner. He was killed on 
the 18th of May 1314, on the top of the King hill, 
so called, by the oversetting of his waggon, at the age 
of seventy-six. 

Petit, Jonathan \v?iS ^rom St^mhrd, at the earliest 
settlement of the town. He owned the thirty-second 
home-lot, and he lived on the road which is now dis- 
continued, leadinop north from Philo Hamlin's He 
was much employed in public affairs. He was con- 
stable nine years. He died in 1772, at an advanced 
age. 

Petit, Samuel WRS a son of John Petit, of Stamford, 
and a nephew of the preceding. He lived in the north 
part of the town, near Benedict's mill. He died on 
the Sth day of July, ISli), aged eighty-eight. He left 



106 HISTORY OF THE 

one son, Gideon^ who died without issue, January 1, 
1829, aged fifty-seven. 

Petit, Joel was a brother of the preceding, and was 
for many years an inhabitant of Sharon. He lived to 
a very advanced age. His son, Joel T. Petit, Esq. 
was a young gentleman of great promise, who was 
educated for the law, and settled in the town. After 
a short professional career he died of consumption, 
September 13, 1807, aged thirty-two. 

Pratt, Jonathan was originally from the old Ply- 
mouth colony, and came to Sharon in 1753. He first 
lived in the Hollow, and was a partner in the iron 
works. In 1754, he removed to the south part of the 
town, and settled where Stephen Knibloe now lives. 
He died February 17, 1781, aged 61. 

Pratt, Capt. Ahraliam was from Saybrook, in 1783. 
He purchased of Moses Reed the place on which he 
lived in the north part of the town, and commenced 
business as a shoemaker. He acquired a handsome 
estate, and enjoyed a large share of the public confi- 
dence. He served as selectman for many years, and 
was otherwise much employed in the business of the 
town. He died much lamented, on the 2d of March, 
1840, aged eighty-one. His only surviving child is 
the wife of Henry Reed, Esq. of Ohio. All his other 
children were cut oft' by consumption in early life. 

Quitterficld, Ahncr is supposed to have come from 
Norwalk in 1752. He lived in the south part of the 
town, on the road leading from the school-house to 
Joseph Orton's. He removed to Stillwater, N. Y. in 
1768. 

Randall, John was from Wareham, Mass. in 1753. 
His wife, who was the daughter of John Bates, was 
the first female and the second child born in the town. 
He lived on a farm now owned by Dr. Sears, a little 



TOWN OF SHARON. 107 

south of Mr. Jewett's. lie died of a cancer May 19, 
1807, at the age of eighty-two. 

Raymond^ Daniel came from Woodbury, in 1748. 
He Jived on the place formerly occupied by Zenas 
Beebe, below Mr. Orton's. He sold out to Deacon 
Landers, in 1760, and left the town. 

Reed, Moses was the first settler on the place lately 
owned by Capt. Abraham Pratt. He came to Sharon 
in 1743, and died November 17, 1786, at the age of 
ninety. He left one son, Moses Reed, Jun. 

Rexford, Arthur was from Wallingford, in 1757. 
He lived in Ellsworth, a little south of Dr. Russell 
Everett's. He had four sons, Arthur^ Joseph, Daniel 
and Benjamin. 

Rice, Asa was from Wallingford, now Meriden, in 
1774. He lived in Ellsworth, where Dr. Russell 
Everett now lives. He died in 1785, leaving sons, 
Asa, Seihj Isaac and Barnabas. 

Richards, Nathaniel was from Norwich, in 1744, 
and settled on the lot lately owned by Samuel Beecher. 
He died in 1763, and the property passed into the 
hands of George White. There are none of his de- 
scendants now remaining in the town. 

Richmond, Benjamin was one of the first proprie- 
tors and settlers, and came to Sharon in 1742. He 
lived a short distance below Lovell W. Chapman's, 
and died in 1766. He had one son, Edward, who 
removed to Spencertown, N. Y. in 1757. 

Roberts, Nathaniel was from Salisbury, in 1759. 
He lived in Abel street, a little north of Stephen 
Tickner's. He died July 15, 1766, at the age of 
fifty-five. He left sons, John, William, Ltbbeus and 
Amos. 

Rockwell, Br. Samuel was born in East Windsor, 
February 18, 1759. While he was young his father 



108 HISTORY OF THE 

removed to Colebrook, and was one of the first set- 
tlers of that township. In 1776. he was in the army, 
for which he drew a pension, after 1831. He entered 
Yale College in 1779, but soon left that institution 
and commenced the study of medicine, under the 
celebrated Dr. Lemuel Hopkins. He settled in Sharon 
in 1784, and, except about five years, when he lived 
in Salisbury, remained here till his death, which oc- 
curred on the •24th of June, 1836, at the age of 
seventy-seven. He represented the town in the legis- 
lature at the sessions in 1815. 

Roirhf, Jonathan was from East Haddam,in 1741, 
and lived near David Woodard's. He staid in town 
but a short time. He removed to Kent, and lived a 
little north of the meeting-house. He died in 1772, 
leaving sons, Simeon, Jonathan, 'Levi, Judah and 
Issachar, several of whom settled in and near Sharon. 
Levi lived where Daniel Clark now lives. He died 
of a cancer, November 23, 1805, at the age of seven- 
ty-three. Simeon, was the father of Mrs. Hamlin, 
widow of Deacon Benjamin Hamlin. 

St. John, Deacon Matthew was from Norwalk, in 
174'i. He bought of Samuel Comstock, the thirty- 
second home-lot, now owned by Caleb and Richard 
B. Cole. He was one of the deacons of the church, 
and was several years one of the selectmen of the 
town. He died August 3, 1755, at the age of sixty- 
nine. He had four sons, who bore the names of the 
four Evangelists, Mattheic, 3Iark, Luke and John. 
Mattheiv removed to Suffield. His only child was the 
mother of Joel Chaffee. Mark lived where George 
Bissell formerly lived. T^uke was a tailor by trade, 
and lived where Josiah Hull now lives. These last 
two removed to Stockbridge, Mass. John lived a 
little south of Philo Hamlin's. He died December 
30, 1784, at the age of sixty-two. The only descend- 



tOwn of SliARdN. 100 

cint of this numerous family bearing the name, is 
Daniel St. John. 

St. John, 2'imothy came from Norwalk in 1756. 
Me lived where Daniel Parsons, Esq. now lives. He 
died November 2S, 180G, at the age of seventy-four. 
His only son, Daniel St. John, Esq. is yet living iil 
Hartford, at the age of eighty-two. 

St. John, Daniel was a brother of the preceding, 
and came to Sharon in 1761. He lived where the 
late Ezekiel St. John lived. He was a blacksmith 
by occupation. He died in 1781, leaving sons, 
Thomas, Lewis, Uriah and Caleb. 

St. John, Silas was also a brother of Timothy and 
Daniel St. John. He lived in Ellsworth, near the 
place where his son, Capt. Silas St. John now lives. 
He was the first deacon of the church in Ellsworth, 
and was for several years town treasurer. He died 
September 21, IfcOo, at the age of sixty-four. 

Sanford, Amos was from Newtown in 1768. He 
lived opposite Freeman W. Parsons' present residence. 
He died December 19, 1777, aged forty-four, leaving 
sons, David, Ezra, John, Samuel, Caleb, Salmon and 
Amos. 

Sears, Capt. Stephen was originally from Barnsta- 
ble, Mass. His parents settled at a place called Jo's 
hill, in the town of South East, Putnam county, N. Y. 
He came to Sharon about 1760. He lived where his 
grandson Benjamin Sears, now lives. He was a car- 
penter and joiner by trade, and in that capacity su 
perintended the erection of the meeting-house built 
in 1768. He died of the yellow fever in New York, 
where he was at work at his trade, in 1791. He was 
the father of Dr. John Sears. His widow died Feb- 
ruary 8, 1834, at the age of ninety-four. 

Shepherd, Dr. Asher c?Lme from Hartford, in 1772^ 
10 



110 HISTORY OF THE 

and was a partner with Dr. Simeon Smith, in the 
drucraist business. He built the house known as the 
Gro&vmer house., opposite Jay S. Canfield's, in 1774. 
In 1778 he removed to Benninofton, Vt. and kept a 
druffo-ist store successively at Bennington and Rut- 
land, where he died in 1788. 

Skljf, Benjamin was from the town of Chilmark, on 
the island of Martha's Vineyard, and came to Sharon 
in 1774. He lived in Ellsworth, where Gibbs Skiff 
now lives. He died February 2l), 1811, at the age of 
seventy-four. He had sons, Walter, John, Scth and 
JBenjaniiji. 

^kif, Samuel was a cousin of the preceding and 
came from the same place. He lived where Samuel 
Skiff now lives. He died in 1825, leaving sons, Sam- 
uel, Arvin, Gibbs and Asa. 

Skinner^ Nathaniel Esq. was from Colchester, and 
was one of the first and principal proprietors of the 
township. He drew the twenty-sixth home-lot, known 
as the Patchrn place, where Mrs. Lowrey now lives. 
He was the first magistrate, first town clerk and first 
deacon of the church. He remained in town until 
17G0, when he removed to Salisbury, and was an 
owner of the mill now known as Benedict's mill. He 
had sons, Nathaniel, Thomas, Joseph and Josiah. 
There are none of the family now residing in the 
town. 

Smith, James was from Bolton and was one of the 
original proprietors. He drew the eighteenth home- 
lot, which lay on both sides of the town street, and 
bounding south on the highway leading by Lovel W. 
Chapman's Mr. Smith was the first person ever 
chosen constable in the town, and was elected to that 
office for three successive years. In 1747 he removed 
to the north part of North East, N. Y. where he lived 
to a great age. 



TOWN OF SHARON. Ill 

Smith, ThcopJiUus was a brother of the preceding, 
and tirst lived near where Mrs. Demingnow lives. In 
1749, he boug-ht of Mica Mudo-e the ^rrist mill known 
as GoT/'s milt., now owned by Major Gould. He sold 
this in 1757, to Colonel Ebenezer Gay, and removed 
to the south-east part of the town, near where Lorin 
Emons now lives. He was one of the owners of the 
grist-mill and saw-mill near his house. He died in 
1799. He had two sons, Theophilus and Levi, who 
are both now deceased.* 

S'lfith, Sainucl was from the Great Nine Partners. 
N. Y. and came to Sharon in 1754. He was a black- 
smith by trade, and lived on the Burr place, in the 
valley. He was a selectman for several years. He 
sold his property in Sharon in 1766, to Joel Harvey, 
and returned to the state of New York. He lived in 
the large house which is yet standing on De La 
Vergne^s hill, and kept a tavern there for many years. 

Smith., Dr. Simeon was a younger brother of the 
Rev. Cotton Mather Smith. He came to Sharon 
about 1756, and was a physician of extensive practice. 
He kept a large store of drugs and medicines, import- 
ing his articles direct from London. In 1776, he 
commanded a company of six months men, and was 
on service in the vicinity of New York. He was a 
large land-holder and built the large stone house now 
owned by Gov. Smith. He represented the town in 
the legislature at several sessions. He went to West 
Haven, Vt. in 1787, and there resided till his death 
in February, 1804. He left no children. He was a 
man of great activity and enterprize. 

Smith, Paul was the youngest brother of Rev. Cot- 

* Another brother of this family, of the name of Azariah, 
settled in the town of North Enst, N. Y. near the present residence 
of Doujjlas Clark, Esq. He was the grand-father of Dr. John W. 
Smith, now living in Sharon. 



J12 HISTORY OF THE 

ton M. Smith, and came to Sharon in 1770. He lived 
in the house originally built by Job Gibbs, next north 
of Jay S. Canfield's, now owned by Dr. Robert W. 
Smith. He was a constable of the town for a great 
number of years. He died March 28, 1825, at the 
^ge of ninety. 

Smith, Dr. Phineas was a son of Dan Smith, an 
elder brother of Rev. Cotton M. Smith. He came to 
Sharon when young and resided with his uncle Dr. 
Simeon Smith, by whom he was educated as a physi- 
cian. He relinquished the practice and engaged in 
mercantile pursuits. He built the house owned by 
the late Cyrus Swan, Esq. He died June 4, 1794, 
at the age of forty. 

Smith, Apollos was a younger brother of Phineas 
l^mith, who came to Sharon in early life, and resided 
with his uncle Dr. Smith, by whom he was assisted 
in establishing an extensive pottery before the revolu- 
tionary war, which proved a profitable business. He 
built the brick house owned by Lovel W. Chapman. 
He removed to West Haven, Vt. in 1802, where he 
died a few years after. 

Smith, Deacon Paul Jun. was a son of Paul Smith, 
and was born in Suffield, in 1763. He came to Sharon 
with his father, and resided here until his death. He 
was elected a deacon of the church, in 1793, and dis- 
charged the duties of that office with great fidelity and 
acceptance for forty-six years. He was a man of great 
sweetness of temper, modest and unobtrusive ip his 
manners, and the principles of the holy religion which 
lie professed were beautifully exhibited in his daily 
walk. He died without an enemy, on the 30th day 
of September, 1838. He had sons, Seabury, Chaiin- 
cey and Richard. Chaimccy died in Missouri, some 
years since. 



TOWN OF SHARON. 113 

Smith, David was from Litchfield and came to 
Sharon in 1801. He lived on the Ousatonic river, 
where his son, the late Hon. Horatio Smith resided. 
He joined the society of Friends in 1781, and is sup- 
posed to be the only member ofthat society that ever 
resided in Sharon. He died April 8d, 1825, at the 
age of seventy-three. He was the father of the late 
Rev. Gad Smith and Ransom Smith, Esq. still survi- 
ving. 

Spafford, Thomas was an original proprietor from 
Lebanon, and drew the thirteenth home-lot, on which 
Horace Reed now lives. Not being satisfied with his 
lot he availed himself of the privilege accorded to each 
proprietor of throwing it into the common stock, and 
in lieu of it laid out a home-lot about half a mile west 
of the meetintr-house, now owned by deacon William 
M. Smith. He died in 1752. There are some of his 
descendants in the town. 

Spencer, Alexander was one of the first settlers from 
East Haddam, and he lived where Daniel Woodruff 
now resides. In 1760 he removed to Oblonof, N. Y. 
where he died the next year. He had but one son, 
Alexander Spencer, Jun. who was a volunteer in Ar- 
nold's expedition to Quebec, in 1775, through the 
wilderness of Kennebeck. He died on the March. 

Sprague, Capt. John was from Lebanon, in 1739. 
He drew the thirty-seventh home-lot, on which the 
Messrs. Prindle now live. He was a selectman for 
several years, and what is singular, he could not write 

his 
his name. The words " John -f Sprague" are 

mark 
appended to many official documents on our records. 
He built the first framed house in the town. In 1748, 
he exchanged farms with Cornelius Knickerbacker, 
and removed to Furnace Village, in Salisbury. He 

10* 



H4 HISTORY OF THE 

afterwards removed to Canaan, where he died in 1760. 
He had three sons, Jonathan^ Ehenezer and John, the 
last of whom went to Canaan with his father. Jona- 
than settled where our pauper asylum now is, and 
lived to the advanced age of ninety- four. Ebenezer 
lived where Osman Heath lives. 

Sfedman, Robert was one of the first settlers and 
came to Sharon in 1743. He lived on the road lead- 
ing west from Anson Boland's, and the barn which he 
erected is still standing. In 1782 he removed to Ru- 
pert, Vermont. 

Strong Caleb was from Colchester in 1743. He 

first settled on the mountain near Calvin Jackson's, 

which place he sold to Thomas Day in 1755. He 

afterwards lived near Freeman W. Parson's. He was 

a large landholder at different times, but he died poor. 

E-pitaph. 

In memory of Mr. Calkb Strong, who died 
August 22, 1789, aged sevenly-six. 

Our movtal breath 
Must yield to death. 

Strongs Josiah was originally from Colchester, but 
lived a while in Litchfield. He came to Sharon in 
1747, and settled where David W. Woodard now 
lives. He died of the small-pox in 1761, leaving sons, 
Josiah, Elijah, Solomon, David and Joseph. He was 
a selectman of the town for several years. David wa.s 
a lieutenant in the continental army. 

Strong, Josiah Jun. was a grandson of the prece- 
ding, and was born in Sharon, June 16, 1758. His 
life was eventful as illustrating the dangers and suffer- 
ings of a revolutionary soldier, in the course of two 
years active service. He enlisted into Capt. Downs' 
company in 1776, and marched to Canada. He was 
taken prisoner with the rest of the company, at the 
Cedars, on the 19th of May following. They were 



TOWN OF SHARON. 115 

released by General Arnold, on his return from due- 
bee, and Mr. Strong returned to Sharon. He imme- 
diately enlisted into Captain Smith's company, and 
joined the army under General Washington. He was 
in the battles of White Plains, Trenton, Princeton, 
Brandywine and Germantown, in which last action he 
was so severely wounded in the leg as to render am- 
putation necessary. He was of course, compelled to 
leave the army, but he carried with him an honorable 
discharge from General Washington. He was placed 
upon the roll of invalid pensioners. He died lately 
at Geneva, N. Y. 

Studley, Joshua was from Hanover, Mass. in 1771. 
He settled in the south part of Ellsworth. He died 
November 22, 1810, at the age of sixty-eight. He 
left two sons Gideon and Ichahod, the last of whom is 
yet living. 

Swain, John was from Branford in 1745. He lived 
near the place where Benjamin Bates now lives. He 
died in 1755, leaving sons, Daniel, James, Isaac and 
Jonathan. 

Swan, Cyrus Esq. was born in Stonington, in 1770. 
He was in early life engaged in mercantile pursuits, 
in the District of Maine. He afterwards pursued the 
study of law, and established himself in the practice 
in this town in 1798. He was a successful practitioner, 
and acquired a respectable standing at the bar. He 
died August 20, 1835, aged sixty-five. 

Swetland, Rowla7id wns the first settler on the place 
where Eli Rowley lives. He sold his place in 1768, 
to Daniel Curtice, and removed to the Lyman place, 
in the Great Hollow, where he died. 

Taylor, Gen. Augustine was from New Milford in 
1784. He purchased of Robert G. Livingston, who 
had come to Sharon during the revolutionary war, the 



116 HISTORY OF THE 

place now called the Taylor place, where he resided 
until 1815, when he left the town. He rose to the 
rank of major general in the militia, and for a while 
commanded the troops which were stationed for the 
defence of New London, during the late war with 
England. He died soon after he removed. 

Thurstin, Amos lived in the Great Hollow, near 
the school-house. He came to Sharon in 1708, and 
remained here until 1785, when he sold his place to 
Ebenezer Dibble, and removed to Ballstown, N. Y. 

Tickner, William was from Lebanon in 1 739. He 
drew the thirty-eighth home-lot, next north of Mr. 
Sprague's. He was a respectable man. He died in 
1760, leaving sons, William, Jonathan and Daniel, 
who all left the town soon after the death of their father. 

Tichier , John was a brother of the preceding, and 
came from Lebanon in 1749. He settled in the Great 
Hollow, on land which his father had previously bought 
ofBezaleel Tyler. He died at the agre of forty-nine. 
He left sons, John, Bcnajah, Eliiha and David* 
Benajah was the father of Dr. Benajah Tickner of the 
U. S. navy, and of Dr. Luther Tickner, of Salisbury. 

Tohey, Elisha was from the old Plymouth colony. 
He lived many years where Stephen Knibloe now 
lives. In 1792 he removed to Alford, Mass. He 
died in Salisbury, on his way to visit his friends in 
Sharon. He had sons, Jonathan, Barnabas, Heman, 
Silvanus, Ephraim, Elisha and Benjamin. 

Tyler, Bezaleel was from Branford and was the first 
settler on the place now occupied by Mrs. Deming. 
He died August 29, 1760, at the age of seventy-seven. 
He left sons, Bezalecl, Benjamin, Amos, Charles^ 
Gideon, Timothy and Nathaniel. 

Waldo, Cyprian was from Windham in 1770. He 
purchased of Gideon Hollister, a part of the thirty- 
sixth home-lot, where Virgil B. Roberts now lives. 



TOWN OF SHARON. 117 

He resided there till his death in 1797. lie left sons, 
Alfred, Bradford, David R. and Zachcvs. 

Warren, Lieift. James lived on the place now owned 
by Benjamin Hollister, Esq. He had no children. 
He died May 14, 1788, aged seventy-six. 

\Vai/, George was from Lyme. He settled opposite 
the Deforest house in the Gay district, and lived there 
for a number of years. He was the first grand-juror 
in the town. He had one son John, who lived on the 
bill west o^ Freeman W. Parsons'. 

White, George was from Wareham, Mass. and was 
the first settler on the place owned by the late Ches- 
terfield Chapman. He came to Sharon in 1747. He 
had three sons, John, George and Archelaus. John 
removed to Alford, Mass. where he died in 1775. 
He was the father of the late Solomon White and 
grand-father of George White, now living. 

White, Israel was from Danbury in 177.5. He 
settled in the Great Hollow, where he purchased a 
large and valuable farm of David Wood. Mr. White 
died in 1820, at the age of eighty-nine. He had sons, 
James, John, Sanford, Israel and Stephen, and his 
descendants yet remaining in the town are numerous. 

Williams, Colonel John was originally a physician 
and came to Sharon in 1743 from Lebanon. He was 
for many years a very distinguished inhabitant of the 
town. He lived nearly opposite Judge Sterling's, and 
the house which he occupied was standing twenty-five 
years since. He was elected town-clerk in the fall of 
1745, which office he held twenty-nine successive 
years, till his death. Previous to his appointment the 
records had been badly kept, and a good part of them 
are very unintelligible ; but from the time they passed 
into his hands they were kept with great accuracy. 
It would seem, that for nearly thirty years, he wrote 



118 HISTORY OF THE 

almost every deed which passed title to real estate in 
Sharon, judging from the fact that they were nearly 
all witnessed by him, and acknowledged before him, 
and it is interesting to observe with what remarkable 
accuracy and strict legal propriety they are all ex- 
pressed. He held the office of selectman seventeen 
years, and was chosen member of the Assembly at 
twenty-seven different sessions, being the first ever 
chosen to that oflSce in the town. When the county 
of Litchfield was organized in 1751, he was appoint- 
ed one of the judges of the county court, and in about 
five years afterwards was made chief judge. He was 
also the first judge of probate for the district of Sharon, 
which was established in 1755, which offices he held 
while he lived. He also went through several milita- 
ry grades, and for several years commanded a regi- 
ment of colonial militia. There are those now living 
who have a distinct recollection of his personal ap- 
pearance, and of the very influential character he sus- 
tained in the affairs of the town. He was a man of 
tall and slender frame, but of great gravity and very 
dignified deportment, and his word was law. He was 
a deacon in the church from June 1766 till his death. 
He died on Sunday, March 14, 1774, at the age of 
sixty-eight, and as it was in the exciting times which 
immediately preceded the revolution, and he had been 
a military character, he was buried with military 
honors. His sword was borne upon his coffin, and 
vollies of musketry were fired over his grave. The 
funeral services were performed under the direction 
of Capt. David Downs. He left a number of children 
but none remain among us. John A. Elliott is his 
grand-son. 

Wood, Abel was from Wareham, Mass. in 1748* 
He settled in the valley, on the lot now owned by 
Henry IJotchkiss, which he purchased of John Gray. 



TOWN OF SHARON. 119 

He died January 29, 1798, at the age of eighty-six. 
He had three sons, Ephrnim, Elijah and Barnabas^ 
the two latter of whom lived to a very advanced age. 
Elijah }Vuo(Ij now living, is a grand-son of Abel 
Wood. 

Wood, David was from Ridgefield, and was the 
first settler upon what is called the White place, in the 
Great Hollow. He came to Sharon in 17-54, and in 
1777, sold his place to Israel White, of Danbury, 
and removed to Ballstovvn, N. Y. He had sons, 
David, Stephen, Caleb and Benjamin. David was 
taken prisoner at Fort Washington, in 1776, and died 
in the prison ship at New York. Caleb died in 
Sharon. Stephen and Benjamin removed to Balls- 
town with their father. 

Woodruff, Elias was from Southampton, Long 
Island, in 176S. He purchased a part of the ninth 
home-lot of Amos Tyler, and lived on it till his death, 
June 17, 1807, at the age of seventy. His house 
stood a little north of Dr. Deming's present residence. 
He left sons, Daniel, James, Ithamir, Salmon and 
Evart,' o^ whom Daniel is the only one remaining in 
town. 

APPENDIX. 
No. 1. 
The following is a roll of the representatives from 
the town of Sharon, to the General Assembly, com- 
mencing in 1755, when the town was first represented. 

May Session. October Session. 

1755 , John Williams, 



Jo I 111 Pardee. 



1756 John Marvin, John Williams, 
, John Pardee. 

1757 John Williams, John Williams, 
Josiah Strong, Josiah Strong. 

175S John Williams, John Williams, 

Samuel Dunham, John Pardee. 



120 



APPENDIX. 



1759 
1760 
1761 

176-2 
1763 
1764 
1765 
1766 
1767 
1768 
1769 
1770 
1771 
1772 
1773 
1774 
1775 
1776 
1777 
1778 
1779 
1780 
1781 



Samuel Dunham, 
John Pardee. 
Caleb Jewiit, 
John Gay. 
John Williams. 
John Pardee. 
Jolin Williams, 
Caleb Jewitt. 
.Tohn Williams, 
Caleb Jewitt. 
John Williams, 
Caleb Jewitt. 
John Williams, 
Caleb Jewitt. 
Jolm Williams, 
Jeremiah Day. 
John Marvin, 
Thomas Pardee. 
John Williams, 
James Pardee. 
Simeon Smith, 
Thomas Pardee. 
John Williams, 
Simeon Smith. 
John Williams, 
Simeon Smith; 
John Williams, 
James Pardee, 
Janies Pardee, 
Ebenezer Gay. 
Ebenezer Gay, 
James Pardee. 
John Canfieldj 
Caleb Jewitt. 
John Canfield, 
Simeon Smith. 
Ebenezer Gay^ 
James Pardee. 
John Canfield, 
Samuel Elmore; 
Samuel Elmore, 
James Pardee. 



Josiah Strong, 
Caleb Jewitt. 
John WilliamSj 
John Pardee. 
John Williams, 
Caleb Jewitt. 
John Williamsi 
David Foster. 
John Williams, 
David Foster. 



Caleb Jewitt. 
John Williams, 
Jeremiah Day. 
John Williams, 
Simeon Smith. 
John Williams, 
Thomas Pardee. 
John Williams, 
Thomas Pardee; 
John Williams, 
Caleb Jewitt. 
John Williams, 
Simeon Smith. 
John Williamsj 
Simeon Smith. 



1782 David Dov^ns, 
Joseph Landers. 



James Pardee. 
Ebenezer Gay, 
Thomas Paidecj 
John Canfield, 
Caleb Jewitt. 
Ebenezer Gay, 
James Pardee. 
Jame.-> Pardee, 
Joseph Lord. 
Ebenezer Gayj 
David Downs. 
John Canfield, 
Ebenezer Gay. 
Samuel Canfield^ 
David Downs. 
•—^— — -, 
Samuel Elmore; 
John Canfield, 
David Downs. 



APPENDIX. 



121 



17S3 Simeon Smith, 
David Downs. 

1784 Ebenezer Gay, 
Josiah Coleman. 

1785 John Caiifield, 
Simeon Smith, 

1786 Joiin Canfield, 
Simeon Smith. 

1787 Jonathan Gillet, 
Ephraim Marriner. 

1788 Epln-aim MarrineFj 
Josiali Coleman. 

1789 David Downs, 
Isaac Pardee. 

1790 David Downs, 
Isaac Pardee. 

1791 Phineas Smith, 
Augustine Taylor. 

1792 Pnineas Smith, 
Judson Canfield. 

1793 Judson Canfield, 
John C. Smith. 

1794 Samuel Canfield, 
David Downs. 

1795 David Dovvnsj 
James Pardee. 

1796 Samuel Canfield, 
John C. Smith. 

1797 John C. Smith. 
Oliver Kellogg. 

1798 John C. Smith, 
Oliver Kellogg. 

1799 John C. Smith, 
Abel Patchen. 

1800 John C. Smith, 
Oliver Kellogg. 

1801 Oliver Kellogg, 
George King. 

1802 Judson Canfield, 
Augustine Taylor. 

1803 Judson Canfield, 
Daniel St. John. 

1804 Judson Canfield, 
Isaac Pardee. 

1805 Judson Canfield, 
Isaac Pardee. 

1806 Judson Canfield, 
Isaac Pardee, 1 1 



Ebenezer Gay, 
Josiah Coleman. 
John Canfield, 
Simeon Smith, 
John Canfield, 
Simeon Smith, 

Simeon Smith. 



Jonathan Gillet. 
Ephraim Marriner. 
David Downs. 
David Downs, 
Isaac Pardee. 
Augustine Taylor, 
Phineas Smith. 
Phineas Smith, 
Judson Canfield. 
Augustine Taylor, 
Judson Canfield. 
David Downs, 
Samuel Canfield. 
Samuel Canfield, 
David Downs. 
Samuel Canfield, 
Enoch Parsons. 
John C. Smith, 
Augustine Taylor. 
John C. Smith, 
Samuel Canfield. 
John C. Smith, 
Abel Patchen. 
John C. Smith, 
Isaac Pardee, 
John C. Smith, 
George King. 
Augustine Taylorj 
Isaac Pardee. 
Judson Canfield, 
Augustine Taylor. 
Judson Canfield, 
Daniel St. John. 
Judson Canfield, 
Isaac Pardee. 
Isaac Pardee, 
Daniel St. John. 
Judson Canfield, 
John C. Smith. 



122 



APPENDIX. 



1807 John C. Smith, 
Judson Canfield. 

1808 John C. Smith, 
Judson Canfield. 

1809 JolmC. Smith, 
Judson Canfi^'ld, 

1810 Simeon Blackman, 
Oliver Kellogg. 

1811 Simeon Blackman, 
Oliver Kellogg. 

1812 Oliver Kellogg, 
Samuel E. Everitt. 

1813 Oliver Kellogg, 
Samuel E. Everitt. 

1814 Oliver Kellogg, 
Samuel E. Everitt. 

1815 Oliver Kellogg, 
Ansel Sterling. 



John C. Smith, 
Daniel St. John. 
John C. Smith, 
Judson Canfield. 
Isaac Pardee, 
Simeon Blackman. 
Cyrus Swan, 
Simeon Blackman. 
Simeon Blackman, 
Samuel E. Everitt. 
Isaac Pardee, 
Samuel E. Everitt. 
Cyrus Swan, 
Sani'jel E. Everitt. 
Cyrus Swan, 
Samuel E. Everitt^ 
Samuel Rockwell, 
Daniel St. John. 
Cyrus Swan, 
Israel Camp. 
Oliver Kellogg, 
Thomas St. John. 
Oliver Kellogg, 
Ansel Sterling:. 



1816 Oliver Kellogg, 
Samuel Rockwell. 

1817 Oliver Kellogg, 
Israel Camp. 

1818 Hezekiah Goodwin, 
Thomas St. John. 

1819 Oliver Kellogg, Ansel Sterling. 
18*20 Oliver Kellogg, Ansel Sterling. 

1821 Ansel Sterling, Samuel R. Gager. 

1822 Samuel R. Gager, Samuel Roberts. 

1823 Samuel Roberts, Horatio Smith, 

1824 Horatio Smith, Cyrus Swan. 

1825 Ansel Sterling, Cyrus Swan. 

1826 Ansel Sterling, Horatio Smith. 

1827 Cyrus Swan, Calvin Gay. 

1828 Cyrus Swan, Calvin Gay. 

1829 Ansel Ste.ling, Samuel R. Gager. 

1830 Charles F. Sedgwick, Clark Chapman. 

1831 Charles F. Sedgwick, Israel Camp. 

1832 Israel Camp, Samuel E. Everitt. 

1833 Clark Chapman. John C. Smith, Jr. 

1834 Horatio Smith, John C. Smith, Jr. 

1835 Ansel Sterling, Ralph Deming. 

1836 An.^el Sterling, Zacheus W. Bissell. 

1837 Ansel Sterling, Elino'-e Everitt. 

1838 Elmore Everitt, Alanson Wheeler. 

1839 Alanson Wheeler, Ralph Deming. 

1840 Elmore Everitt, Horace Reed. 

1841 Zacheus W. Bisseli, Richard Smith. 



APPENIDX. 123 

No. 2. 

The following persons have officiated as magistrates 
in the town : 

Nathaniel Skinner, Samuel Hutchinson, John?VViI* 
liams, Daniel Griswold, Joseph Lord, John Gay, John 
Canfield, David Downs, Isaac Pardee, Augustine Tay- 
lor, Judson Canfield, John Cotton Smith, Daniel St. 
John, Calvin Gay, Samuel E. Everitt, Oliver Kellogg, 
Cyrus Swan, Ansel Sterling, Samuel Rockwell, Hora- 
tio Smith, Samuel Roberts, Stephen Deming, Stephen 
Heath, Israel Camp, Charles F. Sedgwick, Oliver 
Kellogg, Jun. Jacob Chamberlain, Ebenezer Black- 
man, Joshua B. Chaffee, Richard Smith, Benjamin 
Hollister, Alanson Wheeler, John W. McKoy, Ran- 
som Smith, Zacheus W. Bissell, Samuel Roberts, 
Jun. Silas A. Gray, William Everett, Daniel Parsons, 
Ralph Deming. 

No. 3. 

Town Clerks. 
Nathaniel Skinner, Ebenezer Frisbie, John Wil- 
liams, Daniel Griswold, Samuel Canfield, Israel Camp, 
George King, Jun. Henry H. Quintard. 

No. 4. 

The following attorneys and counsellors at law 
have practised in the town. 

John Canfield, Judson Canfield, John Cotton Smith, 
Cyrus Swan, Joel T. Petit, William G. Williams, 
Ansel Sterling, Charles R. Brown, Chauncey Smith, 
Ebenezer Blackman, Charles F. Sedgwick, Frederick 
J. Fenn, Richard Smith. 

No. 5. 

Physicians. 

John Williams, Abner Peck, John Lee, Daniel 

Griswold, Simeon Smith, Joseph Hamilton, Ashbel 

Goodrich, David Doty, Jonah Barnes, Phineas -Smith, 

Samuel R. Gager, Samuel Rockwell, Simeon Black- 



124 APPENDIX. 

man, Nathaniel Lowrey, John W. Smith, John Sears, 
Curtiss J. Hurd, Elmore Everitt, Miio L. North, Eb- 
enezer H. Conklin, Jehiel Abbott, Russell Everett, 
Ralph Deming, Horace A. Buttolph, Nathan S. Perry. 

No. 6. 

Deacons of the Congregational Churches. 
First Society. 
Nathaniel Skinner, Hezekiah King, Ebenezer Fris- 
bie, Jonathan Elmer, Matthew St. John, Ebenezer* 
Jackson, Timothy Carrier, John Williams, Daniel 
Griswold, Gain Miller, Joseph Landers, Benjamin 
Hamlin, Paul Smith, Jun. Isaac Chamberlain, Aaron 
Reed, William M. Smith. 

Ellsworth. 

Silas St. John, Abel Woodard, Amos Seymour, 
Jabez Swift, Calvin Peck, Nathan Dunbar, William 
Everett, Abel C. Woodard. 

No. 7. 

The foUowins: Elymn composed by the Hon. John Cotto? 
Smith, was sung at the celebration of ilie one hundredth anniver- 
sary of the first town meeting, December 22, 1839. 

O bless the Lord, whose mighty hand 

Led our forefathers o'er the main, 
To spread throughout this distant land, 

Fair freedom's just and gentle reign. 

Not cold, nor want, tior foes array'd, 

Could the firm Pilgrim's zeal restrain, 
They trusted in their Saviour's aid, 

Nor did His servants trust in vain. 

Through dangers, toils and anxious cares, 
God was their guardian ana their stay; 

And gave in answer to their prayers, 
The blessings we enjoy this day. 

One century round these hills and plains, 

Have the Redeemer's praises rung. 
Still let them rise in lofty strains, 

From every heart and every tongue. 









;♦ ,/% \W'" /"\ 





'•^ rv"^ ^'S^M^^n^. ^^ <"2>' 



-^0^ 




«:,'- > i^ 







l'J.>^, 



• <^ "^^ 



.♦^"V. V 



'•"• .<^ ... ^-'^ *^«* S 



<f.K 



^o 



" ' ■ \* , . . %l 




<^ 






-<^*■ . o * « - %ft 



o • » ' 






,cJ«o 



NMJ 



vm- 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 






014 076 263 5 



